quietfanatic
Ancient One
The Australian public might follow sport closely and take it seriously but when it comes to politics they are largely selfish, apathetic and disinterested.
The people of Australia voted overwhelming for the Liberal party (the leading party of the conservative coalition) influenced by dishonest fear mongering about interest rates and immigration. The Liberals had the nerve to claim that our current economic prosperity is their doing, as opposed to the policies implemented by past Labor governments and uncontrollable factors such as high commodity prices. The lefties did little to counter the campaign as well, which was just great. I understand people voting conservative in the House of Representatives (lower house), as support for big business and abandoning health and education does have some financial benefits, but the morons let them win a landslide in the Senate (upper house) as well. That is just stupid, because the party positions aren’t that different on most common issues, so only extreme and unjust laws would likely be blocked by opposition senators.
Now that they have total control at the Federal Level, they are rushing through extreme laws that they have wanted to implement for years. They are selling off the other half of our national telephone company, which people knew about, but the price isn’t high enough yet. Generous tax cuts for the wealthy and unsurprising as well.
The scary thing is their new Industrial Relations reform package called Workchoices (hah) that they have introduced without a word during the election campaign. They have spent more than $50, 000, 000 of public money on a propaganda campaign recently, claiming that the proposed system would be ‘simpler’, ‘fairer, ‘better’ and necessary for keeping the economy strong. The ‘simple’ laws in the rushed 700 page document change the emphasis heavily in favour of the employer. Independent arbitration commissions are to be abolished and replaced with one government controlled Fair Pay Commission that will set the minimum wage and leave responsibility for smaller disputes to employers. Federal power will largely replace state responsibility. Businesses (or subsidiaries I would guess) with less than 100 employees are exempt from unfair dismissal laws. Probably the most extreme feature is the stipulation to force employees on to individual contracts or AWAs (Australian Worker Agreement) without the right of collective bargaining. I honestly believe that effectively kills unions. Most professional people should not have too much trouble negotiating personally with their employer, but blue-collar workers are left very vulnerable. Furthermore, awards such as overtime pay and holidays will either be cut back or left to the discretion of employers. Rights taken for granted in the past are now likely to be eroded away over coming years. It is harsher than America in some ways, where I believe your unions still have some protection and the states more independence.
The Prime Minister has said that his ‘guarantee is his record’ when asked if the reforms are actually positive, which is true only in the fact that he has been a dishonest bastard many times before, having no relevance to the very complicated set of regulations. They are either sound laws or not. Nearly all the industrial relations academics, all the unions and some conservative politicians have attacked the bill. The general public is mostly confused about or opposed to the changes. Obviously, employer groups are quite happy about them, but think they are too rigid in some respects. The Liberals have used their numbers in the House of Representatives to gag debate after only one day, preventing many irate Labor politicians from speaking. Having approved the measures, it is now being discussed both by senators and the High Court, but there is little anyone can really do to stop the bill from being passed and implemented just before Christmas. Labor could overturn them after the next election, but as the new leader is an incompetent failure I don’t fancy their chances of getting in. It is a disgrace.
To be fair, it is not all bad and unjust, it is too difficult to get rid of people for small businesses and some of the previous legislation is too complicated under the current system. But they have gone too far and are abusing their majority. The new legislation is actually more complicated and proscriptive than the old system, with less flexibility, less fairness and more red tape for the average worker. Destroying people’s family life and leaving them in fear of losing basic entitlements is going to do little to increase productivity. This is primarily about political ideology obscuring practical problems and reasonable debate.
/semi-rant
The people of Australia voted overwhelming for the Liberal party (the leading party of the conservative coalition) influenced by dishonest fear mongering about interest rates and immigration. The Liberals had the nerve to claim that our current economic prosperity is their doing, as opposed to the policies implemented by past Labor governments and uncontrollable factors such as high commodity prices. The lefties did little to counter the campaign as well, which was just great. I understand people voting conservative in the House of Representatives (lower house), as support for big business and abandoning health and education does have some financial benefits, but the morons let them win a landslide in the Senate (upper house) as well. That is just stupid, because the party positions aren’t that different on most common issues, so only extreme and unjust laws would likely be blocked by opposition senators.
Now that they have total control at the Federal Level, they are rushing through extreme laws that they have wanted to implement for years. They are selling off the other half of our national telephone company, which people knew about, but the price isn’t high enough yet. Generous tax cuts for the wealthy and unsurprising as well.
The scary thing is their new Industrial Relations reform package called Workchoices (hah) that they have introduced without a word during the election campaign. They have spent more than $50, 000, 000 of public money on a propaganda campaign recently, claiming that the proposed system would be ‘simpler’, ‘fairer, ‘better’ and necessary for keeping the economy strong. The ‘simple’ laws in the rushed 700 page document change the emphasis heavily in favour of the employer. Independent arbitration commissions are to be abolished and replaced with one government controlled Fair Pay Commission that will set the minimum wage and leave responsibility for smaller disputes to employers. Federal power will largely replace state responsibility. Businesses (or subsidiaries I would guess) with less than 100 employees are exempt from unfair dismissal laws. Probably the most extreme feature is the stipulation to force employees on to individual contracts or AWAs (Australian Worker Agreement) without the right of collective bargaining. I honestly believe that effectively kills unions. Most professional people should not have too much trouble negotiating personally with their employer, but blue-collar workers are left very vulnerable. Furthermore, awards such as overtime pay and holidays will either be cut back or left to the discretion of employers. Rights taken for granted in the past are now likely to be eroded away over coming years. It is harsher than America in some ways, where I believe your unions still have some protection and the states more independence.
The Prime Minister has said that his ‘guarantee is his record’ when asked if the reforms are actually positive, which is true only in the fact that he has been a dishonest bastard many times before, having no relevance to the very complicated set of regulations. They are either sound laws or not. Nearly all the industrial relations academics, all the unions and some conservative politicians have attacked the bill. The general public is mostly confused about or opposed to the changes. Obviously, employer groups are quite happy about them, but think they are too rigid in some respects. The Liberals have used their numbers in the House of Representatives to gag debate after only one day, preventing many irate Labor politicians from speaking. Having approved the measures, it is now being discussed both by senators and the High Court, but there is little anyone can really do to stop the bill from being passed and implemented just before Christmas. Labor could overturn them after the next election, but as the new leader is an incompetent failure I don’t fancy their chances of getting in. It is a disgrace.
To be fair, it is not all bad and unjust, it is too difficult to get rid of people for small businesses and some of the previous legislation is too complicated under the current system. But they have gone too far and are abusing their majority. The new legislation is actually more complicated and proscriptive than the old system, with less flexibility, less fairness and more red tape for the average worker. Destroying people’s family life and leaving them in fear of losing basic entitlements is going to do little to increase productivity. This is primarily about political ideology obscuring practical problems and reasonable debate.
/semi-rant
