|
Issue No. 211 | 05 March 2004 |
Be Afraid
Interview: Baby Bust Safety: Dust To Dust Bad Boss: Shaming in Print National Focus: Work's Cripplin' Us International: Bulk Bullies History: The Battle for Kelly's Bush Economics: Aid, Trade And Oil Review: The Art Of Work Poetry: Sew His Lips Together
Taskforce "Disgraced" in Court Jockeys Down by Width of Strait Bracks Spin Machine Towels Nurses Good Will Still Hunting on Rail Developer "Monsters" Safety Cop
The Soapbox Sport Politics Postcard
Crucifying Refugees Saving The Planet
Labor Council of NSW |
Tool Shed PREMIER TOOL
***** Steve Bracks has kept up his efforts to govern for all Victorians who are publicly listed on the stock exchange this week, with a no-brainer effort to outdo the Prime Miniature in beating up on working people. The Premier seems to have bucketloads of cash to prop up the world's biggest Scaletrix set in Albert Park in order to please great Labor folk like Lloyd Williams. He also seems to have a talent in sitting on his hands while the private sector does its usual shabby job with public transport. Money also appears to be no object if the private sector needs a few coppers to throw their weight around on a picket line. But when it comes to peripheral things like paying teachers and nurses a decent wage, looking after the most vulnerable people in society, or improving safety in Victoria's privately ravaged Electricity sector, Slippery Steve is suddenly cries poor. What's he trying to prove? That he's some 'reliable' economic manager? This is the man who can't even fund his superannuation liabilities but can throw cash at every showman who has a carnival to bring to town. "We pride ourselves on being the state which has the majority of the major events around the country," the Quiff With Attitude told the ACTU Congress last year. "I hope you get some time and space to do your job on behalf of working families around Australia." Well, they would if bottom feeders like Bracks had a principled Labor bone in their bodies, instead of joining the conga-line to keep the top end of Collins Street happy. Steve went on to piss in the pockets of delegates, telling them what a great thing it was that the Union movement had gone on to form the Australian Labor Party. This amazing revelation still doesn't explain how 'Labor' leaders like Bracks seem to think they have carte blanche to sink the boot into working people while their representatives are supposed to lie back and think of England. The clown has form. In 2001 Bracks, in a stunning display of social responsibility and maturity, directed ministers Ms Mary Delahunty (that great servant of the working poor) and the current minister for Re-education, Lynne Kosky not to meet with teachers unions. Steve Bracks is the one in need of education. His latest sad efforts in trying to outdo Peter Reith in painting the union movement as the source of all evil show a particularly insecure streak. Maybe it's time he stopped trying to spit the dummy about the very real concerns of very real people and concentrated his efforts on actually delivering for working Victorians instead of just a few narrow economists. The man with the styrofoam smile can spend his time in the Tool Shed writing out a hundred times: "The Labor party is there to help working people, not just the big end of town".
View our Gallery of Tools Nominate a Tool!
|
Search All Issues | Latest Issue | Previous Issues | Print Latest Issue |
© 1999-2002 Workers Online |
|