The NEXT coming Oz election thread!

I can't believe I saw JH on Sunday yesterday saying his IR reforms were good because there was a shortage of workers at the moment so the power was in employee hands.

But John, the ad on telly said 'we need IR reform to create 170000 jobs a year'

And I just loved his 'anyone can hire someone to negotiate their AWA for them....'

I can just imagine little Freddy smashing his piggy bank to pay for a QC to negotiate with Macca's for his 8 hours a week after school job.

The story of the lady of Asian extract who worked in a food hall 10-12 hours a day, seven days a week with no holidays (and didn't get paid for travelling between the employer's two 'restaurants' because, in his words 'You're listening to the radio in your car so you are relaxing') was noteworthy - because it happened even under the current 'overly restrictive' regularatory framework.

Anyone see Gough and Mal on 730 report on the dismissal anniversary. We don't seem to have pollies like that any more.

Hello, hinge!

JH is so enamoured of his own pontifications I don't think he worries too much about contradictions & inconsistencies these days. In any case, he has the numbers, so doesn't have to worry at all about convincing any of us of his "wisdom" ...
If he gave a rats about what we thought about his IR "reforms" he's be willing to debate Kim B on the issue. (He's been invited to.) Not such a bad idea, really considering very little of what he's proposing was part of his election platform. We're just going to have to accept his word that things are just gonna be great, I'm afraid. And don't you just love the idea of 5 days of senate hearings?

That was both Gough and Mal's point - that you encourage public debate so you can drag the population with you - not thrust it on them and tell them their idiots if they don't like it.

And they're SO right!
The thing is, Howard KNOWS he can't persuade us to go along with him. He knows that intense scrutiny of his "reforms" will only alarm people even more. I honestly think that's why he's not even trying to persuade us. Because it can't be done. And that's the reason for the extremely limited senate hearing on the issue, too. It's just a pro-business/anti-worker deal, nothing more, nothing less. He knows that. We know that. The best he seems to be able to offer is "Trust me, I know best!" Ha!

I just found this. Yes!:

Workplace changes breach international law: UN
November 21, 2005 - 2:49PM/SMH

Australian's new building and construction workplace laws breach international standards, a United Nations labour watchdog has ruled.

The International Labour Organisation's (ILO) governing body has requested the Federal Government modify its laws.

Unions say the decision is harming Australia's reputation as a democratic country.

The ILO said the new laws, which came into effect in September, fail to comply with Australia's international obligations to allow workers to freely associate in unions and bargain collectively with employers. ... <cont>

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/workplace-changes-breach-international-law-un/2005/11/21/1132421587485.html

It will be interesting to see if Howard responds or if he ignores it.

Now, honestly, what do you think he'll do, gf? :wink:

I think he'll brush it off rather brusquely, he might even throw in a bit of Chauvinism and rabbit on about the ILO not telling the Australian government what to do.

In terms of actually dealing with the ILO I think he will simply ignore them.

Yep! Who are they to tell him anything? <sigh>

More at The Age

A bit of a turn around, hey, gf?
Now, what else could possibly be needed to persuade JH & his business cronies that this is an unwarranted & unwanted imposition on Australian workers? But is he listening? Don't be silly!!!! Last I heard he was declaring that in about a year's time the protests will be a mere storm in a tea cup! And then we'll see the wisdom of Howard's Way!

I think when the history of his time as PM is written this will be in the chapter headed "Hubris" and that chapter will be just before the chapter headed "The End".

Yup! <nodding>

And then there's this. :

Just cheering myself up here. From page one of today's AGE. :

Ah, that feels a bit better!

Perfect

It happened in 2001 too though, and the prat turned it around.

Anyone hear Kim's startling admission that he doesn't watch the news (hard to believe, but admirable, sort of) and had no idea who Michelle Leslie was (which is impressive)?

Then Kevin Rudd comes out and says that Kim is as well informed as anyone in the ALP top echelon and is concerned about the rights of Australian citizens overseas like 'MICHELLE' Corby.

Pretty funny. I guess it's irrelevant but I kind of wish I could have avoided knowing about Schapelle Lee - then maybe we could have squeezed in some in depth coverage of the stuff that is important to where our nation is headed....