Issue No 108 | 24 August 2001 | |
EconomicsGlobal Regulation
Public sector unions from around the globe are taking the first steps to work internationally against the deregulation agenda.
****************** During July 2001, one of the most significant conferences on Regulation and Reform took place in Sydney, with attendees including Politicians from Australia, Africa, America, West Indies, UK including the House of Lords and Commons, it showed that Parliaments throughout the World are starting to consider the implications of Regulatory Reform for services in our society. Sydney based Australian Services Union, Assistant National Secretary, Greg McLean, through his work on Utility Regulatory Reform represented Trade Unionists from around the World through the Public Services International. Greg reported to Workers Online "that standing on the floor of the NSW Parliament, both Assembly and Legislative Councils, including a stint in the speaker's chair, provided an opportunity to campaign further for Unions to have a voice in the Regulatory Reform Debate and Public Services including electricity and water utilities". .The conference provided a first hand opportunity for access to Politicians and the odd senior bureaucrats to remind them of the need to consult with the Trade Union Movement and Community Groups when introducing regulation over a variety of spheres that in turn reflect the standard of living that society maintains. "Seeing first hand the reform process and negotiating the electricity reform issues, as I did from the Prime Minister's round table almost 10 years ago, down to the standard of the energy reform initiatives currently underway in Australia, I have longed believed that regulation can play a significant role, if not critical, in determining outcomes of society. Whilst there has been much work done in NSW on regulatory reform, in particular by the Independent Pricing Advisory Regulation Tribunal, it is only now that we are seeing States such as Victoria look more closely to the role that regulatory reform can provide in ensuring a service, at the right price, and provision to society". Governments that have believed "that the market will fix it" need only look to the Californian experience and closer to home South Australia. The World is full of many examples where Parliaments must regulate for a fair share for society, open themselves up to public scrutiny, create deregulatory framework and ensure citizens get fair play on the playing field that is increasingly being shared by Government Authorities and the private sector. The full publications of papers presented at the conference will be made available in the near future on the NSW Government's Parliamentary website covering the Regulatory Conference. Greg would be interested in hearing from Union Officials in Australia and globally that are interested in the Regulation Reform Debate. Greg can be contacted at: mailto:[email protected] .
|
Interview: The Man from Manusafe Manusafe chief Andrew Whiley explains why employers have nothing to fear from the entitlements trust fund. E-Change: 2.4 The Skeptic�s Response In this round-table discussion, Noel Hester leads the charge against the argument that globalisation and change are inevitable. Politics: No Hand Idle Whitlam Institute director Peter Botsman finds much to agree with in John Howard's social coalition for welfare delivery. Unions: Slavery and Struggle A battle with all the elements of the infamous waterfront dispute is being played out in Charleston, South Carolina: International: Postcard from Santiago The CFMEU's Phil Davey meets up with Communist Party cadres in Chile who led the underground resistance to Pinochet. History: Race and Australian Labour. Australian unionists have long been questioning notions of a �White Australia�, even before the colonies united with it as the central feature. Economics: Global Regulation Public sector unions from around the globe are taking the first steps to work internationally against the deregulation agenda. Satire: Niche Identified in Left-Wing Publications Market A marxist-feminist activist has discovered a gaping hole in the lucrative left-wing publications market. Review: The Fight for Equal Pay In this extract from her new book, Zelda D'Aprano looks at the contribution Kath Williams made to the struggle for equality.
Notice Board View entire latest issue
|
© 1999-2000 Labor Council of NSW LaborNET is a resource for the labour movement provided by the Labor Council of NSW URL: http://workers.labor.net.au/108/c_historicalfeature_greg.htmlLast Modified: 15 Nov 2005 [ Privacy Statement | Disclaimer | Credits ] LaborNET is proudly created, designed and programmed by Social Change Online for the Labor Council of NSW |