
Issue No 107		17 August 2001

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News

Costello's Couriers March to Canberra

A group of angry courier drivers is on their way to Canberra by foot to highlight their growing anger at their treatment at the hands of the Australian tax office.

The couriers, members of the Transport Workers Union, are victims of a determination that which deems owner drivers as employees. This is despite a separate ruling that they are businesses for the purposes of the GST and must file a Business Activity Statement each quarter.

When the issue was raised last month both the Prime Minister and Treasurer have stated the owner-drivers have nothing to fear from the determination and order the Tax Office to redraft their ruling.

The TWU has now received independent advice from a taxation expert that even with the revision, the status of the couriers is still in doubt.

Six couriers left Sydney Thursday bound for Canberra to deliver letters directly to the PM, Treasurer and Democrats Leader Natasha Stott Despoja demanding the ATO deliver on their commitment to protect courier drivers.

They are due in Canberra on Monday at 11.00am, where they will hold a BBQ on the lawns of Parliament House.

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Issue 107 contents

Interview: What's The Deal?
Labor's IR spokesman Arch Bevis explains how a Beazley Government will rebuild our broken system.

E-Change: 2.3 The State of the Union
White hope or white elephant? The future of trade unions is by no means guaranteed in the networked society.

Industrial: Into the 21st Century
ACTU President Sharan Burrow looks at the landmark deal delivering workers 12 months paid maternity leave.

Unions: The Black Hole
Jim Marr goes inside Stellar to discover the human cost of a management philosophy that says: you are on your own.

History: The Age of Dissent
The Sydney Branch of the Australian Society for the Study of Labour History has organised a Conference on Social Protest Movements and the Labour Movement, 1965-1975.

Media: ABC and the Knowledge Nation
Tony Moore looks at how the national broadcaster's fortunes are closely linked to the Knowledge Nation Agenda

International: Brazil�s C.U.T. - When Big Is Beautiful
The CFMEU�s Phil Davey drops in on Brazil�s equivalent to the ACTU, the Central Unica Dos Trabalhadores (CUT).

Satire: Bracks Disputes Cabramatta tag
Victorian Premier Steve Bracks has called for a national council to decide on a location for Australia's drug capital.

Review: Globalisation Is Globalisation
In an extract from his book, Christopher Shiel argues that the official Australian perspective on globalisation is strikingly narrow.

» Labor's Entitlements Pledge: Trust Will Remain

» Ripped Off Workers Start Election Push

» Stellar Out of Line: Hamberger

» It�s a Record! Longest Ever Bank Queue

» Still No IR at ABC Radio

» Qantas Threatens Bangkok Workers

» WorkCover Report Delayed Two More Weeks

» Unrest in Hospitals Over Contracting Out

» Paid Baby Leave Sparks New Family Push

» Nurses Pay Action Hots Up

» Costello's Couriers March to Canberra

» 'Man Who Worked Too Hard' Wins Back Job

» Soldiers Suffer Dodgy Bog

» Union Backs Call For Safety Review

» Cleaner Wins Annual Leave Rights Dispute

» Tip Top's Not the One

» Flying High: Airport Guards Scoop Cash

» Union Presence At Big Indian Community Fair

» Activists Notenbook