The NEXT coming Oz election thread!

That's right, bungie!
It's never him!
You should know that by now! :wink:

I fear we're turning into a cartoon thread!
Ah well, nothing to worry about.
I sometimes think our cartoonists have a better grasp of politics & can sum up the situation as well, if not better, than many of our Oz columnists. Besides, if the columnists wrote some of the things the cartoonists have "said" in their work from time to time, they'd be in all sorts of strife! Sued every now & then, even! :wink:

Anyway, here's today's first offering:

See what I mean about the power of cartoons? You tell em, Moir! Just stating the obvious.
I can't recall a columnist putting it quite as clearly & succintly as this. They wouldn't dare to, for starters!:

Bruce Petty, from today's AGE.:

Nearly $300 million owed to workers by something like 26,000 Australian businesses.
And much of it will never be paid to the people owed the money.
So who are these rogue bosses behaving in this despicable way? How many have been let off the hook & are now running new businesses?Surely JH, or Peter Costello, or Shrek will expose them to the full force of public scrutiny in the Oz media? Just like those terrible swearing union officials who have so harmed their members' workplaces & the Oz economy! Imagine if they had any real power! <gasp>
Anything to say about this, prime minister?
And what about a bit of outrage from you, Kevin? The ALP is the workers' party, remember? The supporter of the under-dog?
But hey, this probably isn't the exiting sort of stuff that grabs the headlines or wins or loses elections, right? :

More bosses fail to pay super dues
Nassim Khadem, Canberra
June 25, 2007/the AGE

A GROWING number of workers are owed or will never be paid their superannuation entitlements from employers, Tax Office figures reveal.

The amount of collectable debt from employers who have failed to pay employees' superannuation has increased each year over the past five years. Outstanding debt rose from $122.5 million at June 30, 2003, to almost $300 million by March 31.

According to evidence provided by the Tax Office at a Senate estimates hearing last month, about 26,000 employers have still not paid employees' compulsory superannuation payments, potentially affecting up to 364,000 individuals.

Many employees will never be able to get money owed. Separate figures from the ATO, obtained by Labor senator Nick Sherry in response to a question on notice, show more superannuation debts are being written off.

The amount written off as a result of employer insolvencies jumped from $49 million in 2003-04 to $55 million in 2004-05. Employers who fail to pay their employees' superannuation guarantee contributions quarterly are charged interest and an administration fee by the Tax Office.

But employers are exempt if the company becomes insolvent, which has left thousands of employees unprotected. .... <cont>

http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/more-bosses-fail-to-pay-super-dues/2007/06/24/1182623741870.html

"UNION BOSSES" is the scare word for today because
"REDS UNDER THE BED" just doesn't work anymore.

It's unfortunate that kevin has fallen for it too.
A union organizer goes to a worksite to represent
his members, not as a representative of the ALP.
Why are bosses so afraid to have a worker's representative
visit a worksite ? One can only guess ...

Yep. Eleven whole years on! Where were you, JH?:

Noel Pearson appears to be backing intervention.

Sydney Morning Herald

Yes, dadpad, apparently he "inspired" the Libs to act.
Seems (to me, anyway) that some sort of intervention is/has been needed. There have been enough calls for it, for some time now. But (to me) it would be preferable if the government was working more with the communities involved. And if the decision to act wasn't so hasty & better worked out. With the army involvement, etc, I can understand why some might fear they're being "invaded". I also have concerns about what all this might mean for the legalities of aboriginal land rights, as a side issue. (Further uranium mining & dumping potential) I simply don't trust you-know-who to be impeccable in very way! No one calls him Honest John anymore, with good reason!

This is 'black children overboard', say elders


Aboriginal elders in Mutitjulu meet to discuss latest developments.
Photo: Jason South

Jo Chandler
June 27, 2007/the AGE

A letter read to them by elder Donald Fraser, recounted first in English, then in the Pitjantjatjara tongue that is still the first language of the old people, polititely advises that a small contingent of federal and territory officials, together with at least one Federal Police officer, would like to visit and talk to them this morning. The letter is couched as a request, respectful of the process, which still requires the restricted community to give authority for strangers to visit, although the permit system limiting access to remote communities will be scrapped under the planned changes. .... <cont>

http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/black-children-overboard/2007/06/26/1182623909042.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1

Spot on, Moir! Exactly!:



Liberals scare strategy to target unions
Steve Lewis and Brad Norington
June 27, 2007/The AUSTRALIAN

JOHN Howard is drawing up an industrial relations battle plan to exploit small business fears of Labor's links with the unions, describing Julia Gillard as "good mates" with militant figure Dean Mighell and claiming that employers face "more strikes, more hassles".

The yet-to-be-distributed election pamphlet warning of a potential "Labor-union government" comes as the ALP is also preparing to target swinging voters with a barrage of anti-Work Choices slogans.

As industrial relations firms as the main election issue, construction company McConnell Dowell has written to its 7000 staff, warning of a "downturn" in the $80billion sector if the federal Government's workplace laws are overturned.

McConnell Dowell chief executive David Robinson claims that Work Choices is "essential to ensure that the industry does not return to the bad old days of intimidation and coercion". ... <cont>

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21975315-601,00.html

This from The Australian :-

McConnell Dowell chief executive David Robinson claims that Work Choices is "essential to ensure that the industry does not return to the bad old days of intimidation and coercion".
Well excuse me. "work Choices" is not an exercise in intimidation and coercion ????
"That can only lead to a downturn in our industry. We are therefore extremely concerned at the prospect of any roll back of the (Work Choices) legislation," he said.
Liberal Party federal director Brian Loughnane said the Government would be "actively campaigning to remind people about what is at stake".
What is at stake ? Giving workers some guaranteed conditions and allowing collective bargaining is going to cause such a catastrophe ??? The absolute gall of these captains of industry,and their political servants, sitting there on their mega-salaries, beggars belief.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21975315-601,00.html

What is at stake, bungie? :wink: : The most unfettered freedom Oz business has ever had (since trade unionism) to do pretty much as it pleases with workers' pay, conditions & job security & make bigger & bigger profits as a result. Simple really. Big business is now becoming more strident & hysterical because its champion, Howard, has been looking like he might get the boot. I can't wait for the ad campaign that tells us why the IR laws are fantastic & essential to the economic health of the nation! Of course it will focus on family concerns! They care about our well being, they really do!

Well, Dean Mighell has gotten the chop from the ALP.
I find that incredible. Not that I'm a "fan" of Dean Mighell (though I'm not at all upset by his actions & words, either). I think this expulsion makes the ALP (particularly Rudd, but Julia too..) look rather ridiculous, out of touch with many ALP members & oh so easily manipulated.
Rudd has been pushed by conservative forces into creating division within the ALP, thinking that actions such as this show him to be a "strong leader" who will not tolerate "union lawlessness". The trouble is, all it tells me is that he simply doesn't understand unionism at all, nor the hardship that many workers are facing right now under Howard's IR laws.
The Libs & big business seem to have more influence on his views & policies than the folk Labor is supposed to be responding. This is quite depressing for those who were hoping for a clear alternative on IR from Labor. How does someone as unrepresentative as this become leader & why does his view of the world have such influence on the ALP's direction & policies? It supposed to be a consultative party for heaven's sake!

This is exactly what Howard & co were hoping for. Division. Thing is, I totally agree with Dean Mighell here:

.....Mr Mighell says he wants Labor to win but he is worried about the relationship it will have with unions.

"I think it's a concern if you want to get rid of officials like me out of the party," he said.

"The threshold is you drive a hard bargain or that you use coarse language at a private union meeting. It's a very low threshold at which to judge a unionist and I think the ALP with Rudd doesn't quite understand unions."

Mr Mighell says some union bosses are considering their future with the ALP.

"Even as late as this morning and yesterday people are a bit bewildered by the way the ALP has handled this with me.

"They are worried that if my crimes are true crimes under ALP law then we are all in a bit of trouble." ......

http://abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/05/31/1938464.htm

The Libs' polls must be telling them that undermining Rudd's credibility (with potential ALP voters) via their union bashing tactics is a real winner. So here's the next cab off the rank! And btw, fancy criticizing Combet for not acting on the The Building and Construction Commission's letter of complaint! Ridiculous! :

Vaile calls for Combet's head over Mighell incident
Posted Thu May 31, 2007 11:23am AEST

Deputy Prime Minister Mark Vaile says Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) secretary Greg Combet should be forced to quit the ALP for not taking action against Dean Mighell when complaints were made about him last year.

Mr Mighell was yesterday forced to quit the party for making anti-business comments during a speech last year.

The Building and Construction Commission wrote to Mr Combet after the speech asking him to take action against Mr Mighell.

Mr Vaile says Mr Combet should not be running for Federal Parliament.

"Greg Combet could've taken action against Dean Mighell after the inciteful speech that was given at this meeting in November of last year and Kevin Rudd should now take that action to send a clear message to the Australian people that he's serious about having an Australian Labor Party that is independent of the union movement," he said.

http://abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/05/31/1938646.htm

They're really pulling his strings, aren't they? They say "jump". He jumps!
Pompous little git. Why can't he listen to the advice of those in the party who aren't so ignorant on these issues? A lot of people depend on Labor. The result of this election matters. It is NOT all about him! Sorry, I'm so fed up with the Libs getting away with this b/s with such ease that I needed to vent!

Well what on earth did he expect?
What does he think they'd make of the police presence?
What sort of previous relationships have many aborigines had with the police? (Say nothing of what they'd make of the army presence!)
This would be a funny & farcical Monty Python-type episode if it wasn't so damned tragic & serious! :

Don't fear indigenous plan: Howard
June 27, 2007/the AUSTRALIAN

PRIME Minister John Howard has told Northern Territory Aborigines they should not be afraid of police and troops sent to their communities as part of a plan to stamp out child abuse.

Police, backed by soldiers, are on their way to remote parts of the Northern Territory to assess the extent of child sexual abuse and to restore law and order.

However some indigenous families are reported to be fleeing their homes and taking refuge in the bush because of fears their children could be removed. ...<cont>

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21977190-601,00.html