I have said since it was first mooted that I am no fan of the government’s “Work Choices” legislation because it seemed to me to fail on its fairness to workers and that It did not get the balance correct. On the other hand when my brother owned a Cafe I saw how a disgruntled former employee could make a real arse of them selves by making a spurious claim for “unfair dismissal” The news today that the Howard government would add a no disadvantage test to “Work Choices” for those on less than $75000 pa is a smart political move on the part of the government , which takes some of the wind out of Labor’s sails.
PM softens Work Choices
- May 04, 2007
JOHN Howard has backed down on Work Choices by introducing a formal assurance that workers on less than $75,000 a year cannot be worse off after trading away penalty rates, shift allowances, holiday pay or overtime.
Under the control of a new Workplace Authority, employers will have to “fairly and adequately” compensate people they sign up to Australian Workplace Agreements.Fair and adequate compensation will have to be “bona fide” and can include more money, flexible working hours, extra conditions such as a car parking space, or fewer hours.
The decision effectively revives a “no-disadvantage test” for those on less than $75,000, from midnight next Monday.(source)
Combine this with the less than sparkling performance of the ALP in devising and presenting their alternative and what was looking like a clear winner for those on the red team is now rapidly loosing its shine, Gillard’s bully boy tactics have certainly evoked the spectre of union bosses from the past and done a good job to put off side just those whom the ALP needs to win over to gain office.
A shiny new paint job (in the form of a shiny new leader) can’t hide the fact that the car we are being offered has the same tired engine and gearbox from the previous model and we surely would be foolish to expect anything new by way of actual performance.
Filed under: Australian Politics, Federal Election, Life and Work balance | Tagged: in the news
If the pressure from the ALP and unions has forced Howard to make changes to his 19th century IR laws, then Gillard and Combay must be doing a good job, contrary to the attempts by Iain Hall and the right to spin it the other way.
BTW Iain, if you want commenter’s here then don’t go editing other people’s posts. Ban us if we embarrass you enough, it is your sand pit, but change my posts and its bye bye.
Your actions show a distinct lack of manners.
Craigy
I make it clear in my comments policy that I will manage comments as I see fit and from my point of view John S is only just one step removed from my resident troll he should be thankful that I don’t ban him altogether.
I very much like the disclaimer at AWH which says that “Trolling may result in something that you don’t expect.”
But with regard to this post did you miss the part where I say that I do NOT, now nor have I ever supported “work choices”? My post here is trying to be non-partisan and look at the strategy of the competing sides here.
Iain, ban him if he bugs you but changing other peoples posts so you can attack them makes you look silly.
“My post here is trying to be non-partisan”
You can’t say that when you have said this;
“Gillard’s bully boy tactics have certainly evoked the spectre of union bosses from the past”
Not really non-partisan are you Iain.
A better non-partisan view would be to look at how Howard has reacted to Union and ALP pressure, HE CHANGED HIS POLICY. So unions are doing some good work now, you must agree?
Anyway the ALP has moved to the right so they are not like the old.
The ALP introduced the reforms that have given Howard the successful economy he has today, following a world wide recession.
The fact that the right can see a problem, in sharing the current economical success fairly with working families, doesn’t surprise me a bit.
That some lower paid workers have been sucked in to believing they are getting a fair share of the boom, is something the Unions and the ALP need to work hard to counter.
Oh be fair Craigy, telling business that if the advertised their concerns about the ALP alternative to “Work choices” that they would be “injured” is hardly the words of a diplomat is it?
Telling everyone they would be better off under ‘workchoices’, and then being forced to make changes because it has been shown to be unfair, doesn’t show Howard to be a leader ‘in touch’ with the public either.
Gillard’s comments were in relation to a football analogy, she did apologise if they seemed threatening, and this was not her intention.
A bit clumsy but cut her some slack, she is still learning.
So Howard has realised his policiy is badly flawed and is making some changes in a pre-election attempt to appease the angry voters. This is an admission that he got it wrong in the first place, not something to applaud Iain.
Who would you rather trust – the guy who’s been saying these laws are draconian and unfair from the beginning, or the guy who made them in the first place, and is only offering to modify them now its become clear the IR laws are a big faux pas?
Get real Iain – this U-turn is vindication of Labour’s opposition – not a cause to celebrate Howard!
Craigy
For some strange reason I expect a bit more from someone who aspires to high office in our government…
PKD
As I have said I have no love of work choices BUT I likewise think that the ALP would be a disaster in other ways were they to get into government. Which is whay I have taken the line that I do here.
As I have said I have no love of work choices BUT I likewise think that the ALP would be a disaster in other ways were they to get into government. Which is whay I have taken the line that I do here.
Then surely a more logical line would be too attack them on the real reasons you think they would be a disaster, rather than to attack on every single thing like this – I mean it’s just obvious your wearing blue tinted specs when you try and spin this as a wonderful act by Howard. Especially as the obvious reality is that he has been forced into making this U-turn by the unpopularity of his IR reforms.
This concession from the Howard govt. is proof he actually listens to the voters and takes their concerns into consideration and from what I’ve seen of him in the past he does listen and does what the electorate wants from him on most occasions.
Off course the the Howard hating opposition…” and stupid leftists will insist he is only releasing it now as an election sweetener, as if they are holding back all their policies until just after the election or something.
Ok, in fairness Rudd hasn’t released the detail of his IR policy, but that’s not because he’s such a nice fellow, but rather because he, like his incompetent sidekick, doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
Fixed MK
Off course the Howard hating opposition will insist he is only releasing it now as an election sweetener
So you are arguing that Howard would’ve released this change anyway – that it has nothing to do with the original IR laws being unpopular or unfair? Yeaaaaaah, right!
Ok, in fairness Rudd hasn’t released the detail of his IR policy
You what? What do you think the right with the likes of Bolt today have been in a tizz about? Why do you think the mining industry demanded a meeting with Gillard to voice their concerns at the changes? Labours IR policies have been unveiled already – 1 IR umpire instead of 4, restoration of collective bargaining etc etc.
What more detail are you expecting from them????
PKD I try to keep posts on this blog just a bit topical and the changes to the IR policy on both sides of the house are topical at present.
There is plenty of time between now and the election for me to explore other issues and I will certainly be doing so.
PKD I try to keep posts on this blog just a bit topical and the changes to the IR policy on both sides of the house are topical at present.
Sure its topical – but your attack was baseless. As you said, you have no love for the existing IR laws that Labour loath, so attacking them for opposing it is just plain illogical.
I look forward to you pieces on other issues – who knows now and again I may have to agree that you have a valid point!
MK and KG act exactly the same as John S. except they shoot their venom in the opposite direction (right to left.) Why don’t you alter their comments or threaten to ban them Iain?
Of course, I meant to say “KG”, not “PKD”.
Vlad
MK and KG do not cheer on a malicious troll who runs a hate blog that constantly defames me the way that John S does.
You will notice that I have edited out your typo by the way,it is a little service that I offer free of charge here
PKD
my post is more of a wry observtion than an attack I am saying a plague on both of their houses here mate.
MK and KG do not cheer on a malicious troll who runs a hate blog that constantly defames me the way that John S does.
No, they RUN hate blogs!
Provide that address or go away John
John
You have been added to my moderation list and no more personal attacks or off topic comments will be accepted from you.
You’re right, Iain, some experience of the employers side is needed to gain a reasonable picture of the situation. So many small businesses in Australia stay small (like my parents’) because of the potential minefield involved in taking on employees.
That has to change if Australia is to develop competitors to the large mega-companies which dominate now – and which are the ones most happy with restrictive employment laws etc.
Brett
Sadly many leftist pundits have very little experiance of either side of the employment question.
Hate blogs ey, you seeing this KG, I believe we are on the right track then.
Thanks Iain, just to add on this Rudd IR thing, Labor and the Unions are always banging on about ‘working families’ and fairness and restoring the balance, but look at what they have done to Kelly Hoare. She was the sitting Labor member for the Hunter Valley seat of Charlton, until Union heavy Greg Combet muscled in and got her kicked out.
She apparently is the sole income earner in her family; so it would appear some working families are less equal than others in Labor’s view. Whatever happened to Rudd/Gillards squealing about working families and all that?