E D I T O R I A L

National Leadership
After a week of front-page political chicanery we are to get more John Howard; who at a time of his choosing will pitch for a fourth election victory by going head to head with the son of a Whitlam Minister.

F E A T U R E S

History: Nest of Traitors
Rowan Cahill uncovers a ripping yarn that could redefine the way we look at Australian involvement in World War II.

Interview: A Nation of Hope
Former PM Bob Hawke bemoans the demise of industrial relations but takes heart from the prospect of peace in the Middle East

Unions: National Focus
Noel Hester reports on a soap star rebellion, Howard�s plans to renuclearise South Australia, more historical atrocities in the north, the redundancy test case plus more in the monthly national wrap.

Safety: The Shocking Truth
It�s every power worker�s worst nightmare � and it happened to Adrian Ware. In a flash of voltage, his life changed forever, as Jim Marr reports.

Tribute: A Comrade Departed
From Prime Ministers to wharfies, the labour movement paid tribute to Tas Bull this week. Jim Marr was among them.

History: Working Bees
Neale Towart looks at a group of workers who got sacked so their boss could keep making the Bomb.

Education: The Big Picture
The NTEU�s Dr Mike Donaldson and Tony Brown join all the dots in the current debate around higher eduction.

International: Static Labour
Ray Marcelo argues there�s another side to the recent furore over Telstra�s use of cheap Indian IT contractors.

Economics: Budget And Fudge It
Frank Stilwell argues that Peter Costello�s latest budget plumbs fiscal policy to new depths.

Technology: Google and Campaigning
Labourstart�s Eric Lee argues the latest weapon for campaigning could be the humble search engine.

Review: Secretary With A Difference
Looking for a new job can be hard enough, without having to worry about sadomasochistic bosses and the threat of being spanked for forgetting to cross your �t�s, says Tara de Boehmler.

Poetry: The Minimale
The Labor Party leadership is in the news again, inspiring our resident bard David Peetz to song

Satire: Howard Calls for Senate to be Replaced by Clap-O-Meter
John Howard released a controversial policy statement today, arguing that the Senate be abolished in favour of a device measuring noise from the gallery of the House of Representatives.

N E W S

Allianz Claims on Sick and Dying

Back Pay Bill From Behind the Bars

Gloves Off for Local Voices

Stabbings Ground Job Cuts � For Now

Red Light for Cut Price Labour Hire

Sacked Workers� Ultimate Insult

Electrolux Repays Survival With Bastardry

Survivor Urges Compo Rethink

Nurses: Bosses Should Foot Bank Fees

Telstra Workers Show Bottle

Rail Workers Telegraph Press Council Track

Call Centre Leak Shames Stellar

Malaysian Detainees Released

Western Sahara Tests UN

Activist Notebook

C O L U M N S

Politics
It�s Our Party
Long time union watcher Nicholas Way looks at the changing dynamics between the industrial and political wings of the labour movement.

The Soapbox
Grass Roots
In his Maiden Speech, new MP Tony Burke argues that the ALP�s union links are nothing to be ashamed of.

Media
Opinion Forming Down Under
Evan Jones condemns the mainstream�s media coverage of the War on Iraq and the damage it is doing to our national psyche.

The Locker Room
Location, Re-Location!
It�s all fun and games until someone loses a club, writes Phil Doyle

L E T T E R S

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Survivor Urges Compo Rethink

Speaking for the first time since the 1999 West Hoxton accident that left him and workmate, Alan Milson, battling for their lives and facing years of surgery, the ETU member called the cutbacks "wrong and unfair".

"There will be genuine people, like myself and Al, injured or disfigured in the future, who will lose out because of the changes they have made," Ware said. "That is wrong."

In some ways, he said, he had been fortunate because he was injured before the Carr Government forced its changes through and had been compensated under the old regime.

Ware was awarded $2.6 million by the Supreme Court. His lawyer, Terry Goldberg, estimates anyone similarly injured and disfigured today would lose $1,276,000, nearly half that amount, to changes authored by Industrial Relation Minister John Della Bosca.

The Supreme Court awarded Ware $450,000 for future economic loss and $488,000 for home and other care necessitated by severe burns, the amputation of his arm, extensive plastic surgery, lifelong high blood pressure, heart problems, and ongoing neck, shoulder, hand, knee and leg injuries. Neither of these compensations is any longer available.

He would also have taken substantial cuts for losses already incurred and "medical and other expenses".

His payout has already been defrayed by medical bills, legal costs, reimbursing workers comp for all its payments and, three years after the incident, he faces further complicated surgery.

His prosthetic arm costs $25,000 and batteries to operate it are $650 a throw. He has had to change cars because he is restricted to automatic vehicles with power steering.

Most significantly, Ware has put money aside for potential advances in surgery and prosthetics that would improve his quality of life.

Researchers, for example, are working on an artificial limb that could offer wrist movement, estimated cost at this point, $100,000. Through a lifetime, you might need four, five or six. The ultimate would be a prosthetic that gave five-finger dexterity.

Ware lives life as it is but he is interested, thanks to Workers Comp pre-Della Bosca, in medical developments that could make it better for him and his family.

"I have got to invest that money for the future," he explained.

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Last Modified: 15 Nov 2005