Real Deal: Reimagining the Australian economy

There has been a demonstrable failure to build a national consensus to decarbonise, with the issue polarising different opinions.

When climate change, or land and sea management have been discussed previously, workers in those communities have been portrayed as threats to the future.

Today, only fragmented voices are heard, and those usually have substantial financial resources. 

There are very few places where people from across our diversity can come together to negotiate for our future.

The Real Deal is a genuine attempt to rebuild countervailing power within communities which are confronting structural change: reducing fear of the future by giving communities agency around what comes next. 

When activists campaign – too often they campaign against these communities (‘these workers are the threat to the future’) or at best these communities are campaigned at (‘you need to change your views’).

There has been little focus on building capability to create, own and harness change from the ground up. There has not been enough effort to recognise that all communities are deeply diverse - and this time of transition needs to be a time for new relationships and ideas.  

The Real Deal project began in the wake of the 2019 Federal Election - a time of great social polarisation in Australia where climate was pitted against the economy and cities were pitted against regions. Using a process of co-design informed by community organising, we have brought together an unusual coalition of climate, union, community and business groups to explore how we can find common ground.

In the wake of COVID, we produced a report outlining five benchmarks for a ‘Real Deal.’ It identified that financial support and stimulus, while essential, was insufficient to address the critical issues the country is facing. It identified five benchmarks that can guide the development of a Real Deal, building on the best of research into the social and economic impacts of the pandemic.

1.     Major public investment is back, but policy must be attuned to the shape of the economy, too.

2.     The pandemic exposed pre-existing inequalities and injustices that must be addressed for good.

3.     We need bold community vision for an economy that serves us all, and a plan to make it happen.

4.     A Real Deal is generated by the active participation of people in decisions that affect them.

5.     Collaboration is the foundation for a Real Deal that can deliver long-lasting solutions.

Together, these benchmarks distinguish a Real Deal on the basis of whether it is genuinely transformative of state-market-society relationships, addresses inequality and insecurity, makes plans for meeting social and environmental needs, and is capable of generating enthusiasm from all parts of Australian society.

We are building a network of place-based projects across the country. These projects are nominated by local communities, and selected based on a series of strategic considerations - including their connection to climate industries (fossil fuel or green industries), social and cultural diversity, community engagement and the extent to which the community could inspire and lead change elsewhere.

The Sydney Policy Lab is seeking partnerships with organisations that can resource long-term research-action work in these communities, seeking to find funds to create local project officers and research partnerships. Our first place-based partnership has been with the Lord Mayors Charitable Fund.

In early 2021, two projects were selected - Melbourne’s West/Geelong and Gladstone. 

Melbourne’s West/Geelong: These large urban communities are some of the most culturally diverse places in the country, and are home to some of Victoria’s most precarious workers. Both have been industrial powerhouses, but their manufacturing industries are in transition. This includes major Oil Refineries like Altona. This project was nominated by the United Workers Union and is supported by the Australian Conservation Foundation and the Victorian Trades Hall Council.

Gladstone: Home to Queensland’s largest Port, Gladstone is a changing industrial community in Central Queensland. We are working with the Qld Community Alliance and the Australian Conservation Foundation to hold community conversations and work with community leaders to plan for a thriving future. 

In addition, we are exploring place-based projects in Narrabri and Western Sydney. If your community is interested in partnering with the Real Deal - you can find more information here.