The government has invited Nationals leader David Littleproud to its upcoming jobs and skills summit in Canberra.
It comes as Opposition Leader Peter Dutton ruled out attending the summit, set to be held over two days in September, labelling the event a stunt.
Mr Littleproud said earlier on Wednesday he would go to the summit if invited, due to there being a need to represent rural Australians.
The invitation to Mr Littleproud from Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the Nationals leader was more than welcome to attend.
"I offered the opportunity to (Peter Dutton) or another opposition member to participate in the summit," the letter said.
"I note Mr Dutton has said publicly that the opposition won't accept the invitation but you have said publicly you want to attend."
Mr Dutton dismissed the summit.
"We will support all sorts of good policy from the government, we've demonstrated that. But we're not going to support stunts," he told reporters in Brisbane on Wednesday.
He noted the letter had been leaked to the media shortly after it was sent to him.
"The (unions) completely hold the Labor Party on a string and the outcome of the job summit will represent the priorities of the unions."
Dr Chalmers said rejection of the invitation had left the coalition in disarray.
"They had a decade to deal with these economic challenges we've been left with, the least they could do is have the same position on whether to attend the summit," he said.
"Dutton says no, Littleproud says yes, Ley says cancel it, Taylor says invite him - they are even more hopeless than we thought."
Formal invites to the summit were being sent out this week, with 100 people slated to attend.
Roughly 30 per cent will comprise employers, 30 per cent workers, 30 per cent community representatives and 10 per cent from state, territory and local government.
Dr Chalmers said it was important to bring people together from across the community for the summit.
"There's plenty of good will out there and a real appetite for cooperation. That spirit of cooperation can extend to the opposition if they are willing to accept it, and I hope they will," he said.
"This is a working summit, not a soiree. We want participants to roll up their sleeves and bring fresh ideas to the table."
An Australian Council of Trade Unions paper released ahead of the summit outlined how the economy could be overhauled in the national interest.
ACTU secretary Sally McManus says Australian workers have suffered through nearly a decade of insecure work and stagnant wages, and have been met with historically high inflation resulting in real pay cuts.
It comes as the government is under pressure to ditch its income tax cuts for the wealthy.
Greens treasury spokesman Nick McKim said the Labor government should walk away from the high-end income tax cuts.
"Scott Morrison's stage three tax cuts will overwhelmingly flow to the wealthiest people in the country, with a $9000 tax break for people earning $200,000 but nothing for those on the minimum wage," Senator McKim said.
"Instead of giving a tax cut to billionaires and politicians, we should be putting dental and mental health into Medicare and making childcare free."
The Greens also welcomed the ACTU's call for the introduction of super profits taxes.
Shadow treasurer Angus Taylor said the ACTU's plan would send a wrecking ball through the economy.
Outcomes from the summit and subsequent discussions are expected to inform the Albanese government's first budget on October 25.
