Albanese’s jobs summit is not a rerun of Hawke’s: this time voters want to challenge globalisation, not embrace it

‘As governments around the world struggle post-pandemic with broken budgets, rising inequality and distrust in institutions, the Albanese government has the chance to begin building its legacy.’ Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAP

It’s tempting to view the upcoming jobs and skills summit as a retro version of Bob Hawke’s 1983 national economic summit which unified the nation and set up his government for more than a decade of success.

There are obvious similarities: a new ALP government inherits an economy being buffeted by the winds of history, challenging worker representatives and captains of industry to rethink what is normal in pursuit of the national interest.