Australian PM urged to “reshape” economy following COVID-19 pandemic

   CANBERRA, May 11 -- Australia's opposition Leader has called for an overhaul of the nation's economy in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.
   Anthony Albanese, the leader of the Labor Party, on Monday delivered a wide-ranging economic "vision statement" ahead of Parliament resuming on Tuesday.
   He urged Prime Minister Scott Morrison to use the global pandemic as a "once-in-a-generation" opportunity to reshape Australia's economy, revitalize the manufacturing industry and work out an appropriate decentralisation strategy which boosts regional economic development.
   Albanese encouraged the government to invest in "nation-building" infrastructure projects such as a high-speed rail network to create jobs, describing the crisis as a "once-in-a-generation chance to reshape our economy so it works for people and deepens the meaning of the fair go."
   "It's critical that we are still saying, 'we are all in this together,' after the lockdown has come to an end -- and not just saying it, living up to that standard," he said.
   "Because this experience has reminded us that there is such a thing as society -- that we are all connected and the strength of this bond is what is pulling us through as Australians. Our challenge must be to recover stronger, not just to return to as we were."
   "Let's not snap back to insecure work, to jobseekers stuck in poverty, to scientists being ignored."
   Parliament will return for a three-day sitting period on Tuesday having been suspended since early April to prevent the COVID-19 from spreading among politicians.
   Albanese has previously flagged that he will use the sitting to intensify scrutiny of the government's response to the COVID-19.   Xinhua