*****
The Liberals have long clung to the ideology of do as I say, not as I do.
So it comes as no surprise that John Howard has fully endorsed Liberal MP for Parramatta, all round family man and serial hypocrite Ross Cameron, who has spent much of his public life living an absurd lie.
Our Married with four children Tool Of The Week is one of those bible thumping loonies Australians are justifiably wary of.
Cameron is one of those fundamentalist Norberts that are opposed to sex because it leads to dancing.
His love of the free market is mirrored by a bizarre enthusiasm to regulate everyone else's private life.
He took his role as parliamentary secretary for family and community services so seriously that he thought he would communally service a few other families.
So it's deliciously ironic that this creep with a fascination for what other people do in their bedroom has been found loitering in one that isn't his own.
It's bizarre that our sheet sniffing assistant treasurer would rather have an affair with an "exotic" Canberra solicitor than look into the plight of former employees of the James Hardie plant that is smack bang in the middle of his electorate.
Instead we get a whining moralising ideologue promoting "family values" and droning on like a Mormon on amphetamines about everybody else's private lives.
When he does take a break from his proselytising we get to see his version of muscular christianity. This is where he likes to beat up on people in public housing, abstract art, reds under the beds or whatever fruity issue his nutcase mates from the Ghenghis Khan with a Bible Faction of the Liberal party are foaming at the mouth about this week.
Cameron has all the moral, ethical and philosophical development of a hyena, but with none of the social utility.
We shouldn't be surprised given that he is the spawn of that arch-hypocrite Jim Cameron, who left the Liberal Party because of its dangerous left wing views and took up a seat in everybody's favourite nuthouse, the NSW Legislative Council as a member of Fred Nile's party.
Jim's son has shown the same unhealthy overestimation of his own self worth; Ross even stooping to using his twin babies during the last election campaign.
Grown up Australians are sick and tired of moral bigots like Cameron lecturing us on what is best for us while giving the green light to any ratbag carpetbagger that wants to rip us off under the guise of a 'deregulated' market or 'choice' in employment contracts or schooling.
It's about time our Tool Of The Week resigned, put his pants back on, and crawled back under whatever rock he came from.
Asbestos sufferers and unions are demanding that the company postpone shareholder meetings, including the AGM, set down for the week before David Jackson, QC, makes his findings public on September 21.
Asbestosis sufferer, Bernie Banton, urged Australians to be wary of the line being run by new chair, Meredith Helicar, who stepped into the role after predecessor, Alan McGregor, received unfavourable mentions at the Inquiry.
"This company has a history of saying one thing and doing another," Banton warned. "The fight is not won because Hardies is so slick and slippery it is hard to deliver the knockout punch.
"Last week they got enormous publicity for saying all victims should be compensated. All their media, since, has back-tracked from that position.
"They have scheduled their shareholder meetings to cover up anything about their treatment of asbestos victims that may come out of the inquiry."
Helicar has been apologising all over town to asbestos sufferers likely to be dudded by the company' 2001 corporate restructure but continues to run her predecessor's line that only a state-run scheme will deliver a fair go.
Months ago the company was adamant it had no legal or moral obligations to Australians dying of asbestos-related diseases, beyond what was left of the $293 million it deposited with trust fund, MRCF.
Hardie had assured the Supreme Court and the sharemarket that Australian creditors would have access to $1.9 billion in partly-paid shares. Barely a year later, directors rescinded that arrangement, leaving a compensation hole estimated at $2 billion.
On the final day of the Jackson Inquiry, after copping a public relations flogging, it agreed to wider funding, conditional on a "statutory" scheme.
Unions and asbestos groups expect Helicar to seek shareholder endorsement of that stance in the days before Jackson's findings are released.
But Banton says veteran director Helicar's round of media mea culpas should be taken with a grain of salt.
"She had 12 years to be sorry," Banton said. "Now she is saying - all victims should be subject to a scheme -Hardie has been scheming against its victims since 1995."
AMWU secretary, Paul Bastian, said the proposal was what James Hardie had wanted from the beginning - the state to underwrite compensation payments to Australians killed by contact with its products.
"Hardies and their insurers want a capped statutory scheme because that is the best outcome for their share price," Bastian said. "That has been their position since day one. Their motivation has always been their share price, rather than the victims.
"James Hardie is not the victim in this scandal."
The group of eight attendants, some experienced ex-Ansett employees, argue they were rejected by Virgin Blue because they were "too old and ugly".
The applicants, aged 36 to 56, claim the 2001 interview process was little more than a meat market.
Richard Branson-owned Virgin has been criticised for its "sexist" marketing practices that often feature media stunts involving Branson and a clutch of attractive, young female flight attendants. In one such incident Branson sprayed his helpers t-shirts with champagne.
In 2001 the airline denied claims by the Flight Attendants Association of Australia it had asked female flight attendants to wear G-strings after the union fielded complaints.
The FAAA's Darryl Watkins says age should not be a barrier for flight attendants if they know emergency procedures and provide good service.
"We encourage all airlines to recruit regardless of age and to recognise the need for progressive policies such as part time work and workplace flexibility," he says.
The safety standoff halted progress on a new busway out of Blacktown in Sydney�s west.
CFMEU activists swooped on the site, where 47 fibro houses were being demolished, after public complaints about the smashing of asbestos sheeting, and the lack of perimeter fencing.
They discovered workers hadn't been issued with protective equipment or received "rudimentary" training in asbestos handling or general safety.
CFMEU secretary, Andrew Ferguson, called on the Roads and Traffic Authority to lift its game by taking compliance records into account when assessing tenders.
"The RTA keeps handing these jobs to blatant shonks on the basis of cost," Ferguson said. "It was caught red-handed at Liverpool, in similar circumstances earlier this year, now this blows up.
"It feels it has to award work to the absolute cheapest tenderer but, when you are dealing with safety, cheapest is very rarely best. You don't have to be an industry expert to know human lives are at stake when you are handling asbestos."
Ferguson said the RTA had awarded the demolition contract to Coastal Developments which, in turn, sub-contracted the job.
"In addition to the serious OH &S breaches, the union uncovered workers compensation fraud, taxation irregularities and non compliance with superannuation and award entitlements," Ferguson said.
He also queried the "disinterest" of the federal government's Building Industry Taskforce in the Blacktown "rorts".
The union is demanding that the contractor be sacked and that the work, and workforce, be taken over by a competent asbestos removal company.
Labor Council is seeking an urgent meeting with Roads Minister Carl Scully about RTA tendering policies.
Miners Trump Rio's Millions
Five Queensland miners have returned to work after a six-year battle against Rio Tinto.
The Industrial Relations Commission found the five were unfairly dismissed from a central Queensland coal mine in an act of "victimisation" by the company.
Ned Appleton, Athol Finger, Don Halverson, Morgan Lindley and Bryan Walsh have all been reinstated, while two other men will start at the Hail Creek mine in October.
Health reasons precluded three other miners from returning to the industry.
Appleton says the men are looking forward to returning to work at the Blair Athol mine.
"The brave and victimised Blair Athol coal mine workers finally received justice," says Bruce Watson of the CFMEU mining division. "That these men and their families should have been subjected to almost six-years of victimisation and all the hardships that brings is a disgrace."
"That their unfair dismissal case could be dragged on for that long by a vindictive and powerful multinational is a gross miscarriage of justice inflicted on the Australian community by the Howard Government's rotten industrial laws."
Watson pointed out that the laws provide no time limit on unfair dismissal cases and allow only a maximum six months wages in compensation for workers found to have been unfairly dismissed.
"Under Howard's laws, an ordinary worker, doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell against a corporate giant like Rio Tinto," says Watson. "Our Union estimates that Rio spent in excess of $6 million in legal fees to keep out the Blair Athol 16."
Doctor No
The full bench of the AIRC in handing down its decision slammed the use of dodgy medical reasons to victimise staff.
The decision singled out the practices of Dr Peter Fenner, the nominated medical adviser for a number of Rio Tinto mines in Central Queensland.
The decision criticised Dr Fenner for being evasive and changing his evidence; being contradictory in his approach to medical examinations; having a poor understanding of his legal obligations as a nominated medical advisor; and exaggerating his professional status (i.e. claiming to be a specialist when he was not).
Fenner was involved in assessing whether miners were fit to return to work.
The Industrial Relations Commission found the five were unfairly dismissed from a central Queensland coal mine in an act of "victimisation" by the company.
Ned Appleton, Athol Finger, Don Halverson, Morgan Lindley and Bryan Walsh have all been reinstated, while two other men will start at the Hail Creek mine in October.
Health reasons precluded three other miners from returning to the industry.
Appleton says the men are looking forward to returning to work at the Blair Athol mine.
"The brave and victimised Blair Athol coal mine workers finally received justice," says Bruce Watson of the CFMEU mining division. "That these men and their families should have been subjected to almost six-years of victimisation and all the hardships that brings is a disgrace."
"That their unfair dismissal case could be dragged on for that long by a vindictive and powerful multinational is a gross miscarriage of justice inflicted on the Australian community by the Howard Government's rotten industrial laws."
Watson pointed out that the laws provide no time limit on unfair dismissal cases and allow only a maximum six months wages in compensation for workers found to have been unfairly dismissed.
"Under Howard's laws, an ordinary worker, doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell against a corporate giant like Rio Tinto," says Watson. "Our Union estimates that Rio spent in excess of $6 million in legal fees to keep out the Blair Athol 16."
Doctor No
The full bench of the AIRC in handing down its decision slammed the use of dodgy medical reasons to victimise staff.
The decision singled out the practices of Dr Peter Fenner, the nominated medical adviser for a number of Rio Tinto mines in Central Queensland.
The decision criticised Dr Fenner for being evasive and changing his evidence; being contradictory in his approach to medical examinations; having a poor understanding of his legal obligations as a nominated medical advisor; and exaggerating his professional status (i.e. claiming to be a specialist when he was not).
Fenner was involved in assessing whether miners were fit to return to work.
The company, which has just posted a record profit of $584 million, has been warned that industrial action will escalate unless it improves its attitudes to super and redundancy.
More than 1000 Bluescope employees in Queensland, NSW, Victoria and South Australia stuck last week.
AWU secretary, Bill Shorten, says the company is using an "outdated legal technicality" to dud workers of super contributions, and its redundancy policies are undermining the security of thousands of families.
Shorten said Bluescope refused to include bonuses in super calculations, contrary to accepted industry practice.
His union estimates the policy has shortchanged 10-year workers at its Western Port plant, in Victoria, by around $13,000.
Bluescope has announced it paid a $4.4 million salary package to CEO, Kirby Adams, last year, including a super component of $204,528 a year. That represented a 28.1 percent increase on his 2002-03 "earnings".
The company's annual report reveals that it paid another three executives more than $1 million, last year.
Their earnings, and percentage movements on the 2002-03 financial year, were; Lance Hockridge $1,600,669, up 39 percent; Kathryn Fagg, $1.253,429, up 15.2 percent; Brian Kruger, $1,251,333, up 26.8 percent.
Unions this week blew the whistle on the bean counters after it was discovered that NSW Treasury had unilaterally abolished a range of procurement codes consistent with ALP policy.
The codes require government departments carrying out tenders to consider at the industrial relations policies and safety records of tenderers.
Unions see the policy as an important tool in fighting bad bosses by ensuring they don't benefit from lucrative contracts awarded by labor governments.
Workers Online understands procurement policies and guidelines covering textiles, clothing, footwear, building and construction and other goods and services were unilaterally abolished in a policy document posted on the Treasury website.
Labor Council assistant secretary Mark Lennon said it was outrageous the proposal had got so far without any consultation with unions.
"This is a clear breach of ALP policy that was unanimously passed at 2003 state conference," Lennon says.
Lennon says the issue has now been pointed out to the government and it has given assurances that there will be further consultation about the matter.
The directive bagged Aussie Post the Industrial Ernie but was not enough to take the Gold Ernie from Toohey's for an advertisement where rugby fans offered their sisters to the Wallabies.
The Ernies, dedicated to the former Labor Council president Ernie Ecob are organised by NSW Legislative Council president Meredith Bergmann in honour of his legendary observation that female shearers should not be tolerated in shearing sheds because all they were interested in was the sex.
Bergman says while the Ernie awards were inspired by the blokey culture of the union movement in the early nineties, the focus is now on the broader community.
"Trade unionists have so cleaned up the act - that industrial is now a sidelight - and the bosses always win!"
The Full List of Winners, voted by popular acclaim - or boos - from a dinner attended by 400 inappropriately dressed women at NSW Parliament were:
The Gold "Ernie" - Tooheys Advertising - A bunch of Wallaby supporters hold up a banner at the game which says "Boys, if you win you can have our sisters." The banner has arrows pointing to "their sisters" in the seats beside them.
The "Warney" (for sport) - Bulldogs Chief Executive Malcolm Noad -
"Let's believe nothing happened in Coffs Harbour."
Media "Ernie" - P P McGuiness - "The crude abuse coming from many of the ageing feminists and their ideological children who have for years repeated the tired stuff about women having the sole rights over their own bodies, as if there were no moral or ethical issue beyond that, merely shows that they have devoted no serious thought to the issue since the 1970s."
Political "Ernie" - John Howard for:
- vetoing the $20 million campaign against domestic violence because it was too "anti-male,"
- arguing against a paid maternity leave scheme, saying "it would not increase the fertility rate or improve job security,"
- criticising Mark Latham for not wanting to change the Anti-Discrimination Act to allow male-only scholarships for teachers, and
- describing as "crazy" the ALP's plan to offer casual workers the option of permanent part-time work with holiday pay and sick leave entitlements saying "women will be the biggest losers."
Judicial "Media" - Melbourne Barrister, Paul Reynolds - for saying to a client, "just let me feel those puppies then" (he was not referring to her pets)
Industrial "Media" - Australia Post - for telling female staff at the Bondi Junction Post office that if they wanted to be at the opening of the new Post Office they should lose weight, and cutting the maternity leave of a worker from 12 to 6 weeks when her baby was born 13 weeks premature on the basis that this was 12 weeks earlier than the date she had nominated.
The "Anon" (the Good "Ernie" for boys behaving better) - Adam Goodes - for saying his mum was his inspiration and for taking her to the Brownlow Dinner.
The "Elaine" (for the remark least helpful to the Sisterhood) - Jackie Kelly, Federal Member for Lindsay - "No-one in my electorate goes to uni... it's pram city."
The "Clinton" (for repeat offenders) - Tony Abbott
Tenix moved against Albury-Wodonga employees after they rejected an offer that would have left them earning $2 to $3 an hour less than staff doing similar jobs in Australian cities.
"This argument is about more than Tenix," AMWU organiser, Rob Leonard, said. "It's about living standards in rural communities.
"Visyboard has been here about 12 months, using AWAs to pay less than they pay anywhere else in the country. People are not prepared to be used as cheap labour by successful companies simply because they live in the bush."
Tenix, which used Workplace Relations Act author Peter Reith as a consultant, offered Albury-Wodonga employees 12.85 percent over three years. A movement that Leonard said would have "cemented in" inferior rates.
It also failed to address a range of allowance claims, including bids for family-friendly provisions.
When AMWU and NUW members rejected those positions, Tenix locked them off the site.
"It's the old starve them back to work story," Leonard said, "but the fact is some people won't be back anyway. They are accepting alternative jobs because Tenix pays below the going rate for comparable work."
Albury-Wodonga workers are employed at a military establishment that refurbishes vehicles - tanks, armoured personnel carriers, trucks and the like - for the Defence Department.
Representatives of locked out staff launched legal actions against Tenix this week.
The AMWU won reinstatement for 16 "fixed term temporaries" dumped after Tenix informed them they would have permanent positions. Tenix agreed to rehire the workers after the case opened in the Federal Court at Melbourne.
Meanwhile, the NUW is awaiting an IRC ruling on its claim that the lockout is illegal.
The Australian Financial Review reports that Australia's big-four banks all face substantial claims after an industry-wide audit by New Zealand's Reserve Bank found they had grossly understated their tax rates.
National Australia Bank subsidiary, BNZ, was found to have paid an effective rate of 7.5 percent, last year, but reported paying tax at 27.1 percent of earnings.
According to the Reserve Bank, Westpac paid up at 7.2 percent while reporting a tax rate of 30.4 percent, while the ANZ generated an effective rate of 9.4 percent but reported 29.7 percent.
The audit claimed that Commonwealth Bank subsidiary, ASB, had generated a negative effective tax rate, whilst reporting payments at 33.7 percent.
Their performances caused the Reserve Bank of New Zealand to wonder what they might get up to in other dealings.
"The apparent ease with which banks can manufacture a desired reporting outcome leaves one with a sense of unease about what they could do in areas that are of more direct prudential concern," a RBNZ memo said.
All the Australian banks have denied the accusations.
Stockbroker, JP Morgan, quoted NAB chief executive, John Stewart, as slamming Helen Clarke's administration. Stewart called it "very left wing and not business friendly."
They want to be able to trade away wages for increased holidays in a bid to spend more time with families and friends.
CPSU Territory secretary, Rod Ellis, said members wanted the regime that allows school admin staff to take off school holidays, in return for pocketing 92 percent of their annual salary, extended across the service.
"It's a family-friendly concept," Ellis said. "Our members tell us they would be prepared to trade away money to take school holidays off with their kids."
The ability to buy extra leave is common for public sector workers in other states and territories.
The union is also asking for five percent wage movements, an improved health and safety regime, and increases in allowances, including improved remote localities provisions.
Ellis said the Northern Territory Single Bargaining Unit demands were not an ambit claim.
"The Government asked us for a fair-dinkum claim and that's what they've got," he said.
"Many public servants work long hours and it's time we looked seriously at the way we work in the Territory."
CFMEU national secretary John Sutton has flagged the claim while savaging employers for crying poor and seeking government support to train the next generation of skilled workers.
The Australian Industry Group has called for the handouts in the face of an estimated shortage of 250,000 apprentices from traditional trades, claiming employers can not bear the training costs.
But Sutton says the only solution is increased wages for apprentices, given that an apprentice earns up to $100 less a week than a fast food junior.
The CFMEU is now considering an application to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission to substantially improve apprentice wage rates in building trades awards.
"The employer lobby in this country has always argued for market-based solutions, not government expenditure and regulation," Sutton says.
"Employers cannot attract and develop world-class skills from a low wage base. The industry needs investment in wages and training, not pleas for government handouts to cure a problem of their own making," he says.
Local and state governments used to turn out thousands of tradesmen from workshops every year. In the 1970s, outfits like State Rail and Sydney City Council would each offer opportunities to 400 youngsters every year. The private sector keenly snapped up the finished product.
But with the rush to privatise government enterprises in the 1980s came accountants who transformed apprentices from investments into costs and ended the practice.
Now with a projected short fall, economist are warning the economy could lose up to $9 billion per annum because of the shortfall in apprentices.
The peak employer group opposed fines for workplace bullies after a $50,000 censure was imposed on a Ballarat radio station where an announcer was found to have slapped station staff
AIG Victorian director, Tim Piper, said heavy fines were not the best way to reduce bullying.
His call was slammed by unions who said surveys showed little was being done by employers to combat the problem.
"The whole focus in Australia is to have a safe workplace," says NSW Public Service Association official Steve Turner. "That's not just about loose tiles and asbestos, it's about dignity and respect for everybody.
"Bullying is the lowest form of disrespect. It is cowardice.
"The PSA is happy to see courts finally awarding damages arising from bullying in the workplace. It is ridiculous that the AIG has gone public in its support for cowardice."
The NSW Labor Council is surveying workplaces about the impact of bullying and has flagged a campaign over the issue that is expected to be launched next month.
The world's largest mining company announced a profit of $3.38 billion for the last financial year.
"This has been a record year for BHP Billiton," says chief financial officer Christopher Lynch.
Lynch failed to mention that 17 Australian employees had died in the workplace over the same period.
In May, following the deaths of three Pilbarra workers, ACTU organiser, Will Tracey, said safety standards had "plumetted" since BHP Billiton used massive inducements to transfer its workforce onto AWAs.
"The thing with individual contracts is that they inhibit people from speaking out on safety for fear of being hammered in performance reviews," Tracey said. "Anyone who speaks out on safety is labelled a trouble maker."
BHP Billiton plastered Maoist-style exhortations to "Aim high, move fast!" around an iron ore plant where AMWU delegate Cory Bentley was killed in May.
Workers inside the facility claimed that on the day of his death, Bentley's 18-man crew was seven short of full complement.
"It seems a culture of production before safety has developed and shortcuts are being taken to accommodate the tonnages required to meet contracts," said AMWU WA state secretary Jock Ferguson after Bentley's death.
Celebrating company executives, this week, conceded "cost cutting" was behind the company's financial result.
And, they say, the government is yet to make good on a pre-election promise to establish a $1 million 'Priority Schools Help Program' that would give intensive support to the most needy schools in the state in areas such as Walgett and Minto.
The NSW Teachers Federation described this week's back-down as "a stay of execution", noting that the government had commissioned yet another review into the equity schemes, which give special attention to children in the neediest public schools.
"Why waste government money on yet another evaluation, says the Federation's Angelo Gavrielatos. "All it does is raise the spectre of another bid to undermine these important equity programs."
Earlier this week, teachers and community groups shamed the Carr Government into back flipping on a decision to cut money to needy school kids.
Principals at the state's 74 poorest schools were told this month to sac $16 million worth of staff employed under a $16 million dollar equity program at the end of the year.
The 2300 staff were hired to target attendance, improved reading and computer skills, class behaviour, and decreases in suspensions.
Over 156,000 school students, or 20 per cent of state school students, are covered by the equity funding programs.
Gavrielatos says independent evaluation had already shown the success rate of the programs. "Any attempt to these undermine programs will see a re-igniton of our campaign."
SUPPORT UNPAID SUBCONTRACT BUILDING COMPANIES IN THEIR CAMPAIGN FOR JUSTICE
How can you help? Boycott the Safari Restaurant, Sign our Supporters Petition, Make a donation to the campaign and Picket nightly from 6.15pm - 28 King Street, Newtown.
The Western Sydney Peace Group invites you to attend a public forum on: Refugees and Indigenous People in John Howard's Australia
with guest speakers :
SenatorAdenRidgeway -(Democrats Senator for NSW)
Merlin Luck -(Big Brother Evictee and Refugee Activist)
Farshid Kerohallpour -(Iranian refugee)
Phil Glendenning -(Director of the Edmund Rice Centre)
7pm Monday 23 August at St Marys Memorial Hall, Cnr Great Western HwyandMamre Rd, St Marys.
Tuesday August 24 at 11am. It's the launch of the "Not Happy John!" campaign, which aims to unseat John Howard in his own electorate! The movement is gaining a lot of momentum. I believe a change of Government in Australia is vital for Australia to move forward and heal the wounds of past policy decisions that have been so tragic for ordinary Australians, Iraqis and asylum seekers. The movement is spear-headed by traditionally conservative voters with big hearts. The rally will be held at Eastwood Masonic Hall, 186 Rowe St, Eastwood, 11am. Ph 99296818 for details.
National competition for students - term 3
The Australian Council of Trade Unions' Worksite for Schools website (www.worksite.actu.asn.au) is currently running a national competition for school, TAFE and RTO students - Your Dream Job.
To enter, students must write about the job of their dreams. There is $100 for the student winner, $50 for 2 runners-up, and $25 for the winner of the special effort category.
The competition will not only give students a chance to win, it's a great way for them to learn about the workforce and get them excited about their working future.
Worksite is a terrific source of information about the workforce, providing statistics, encouraging debate, creativity and analysis.
The competition closes Friday 22nd October 2004. More information and an entry form can be obtained from the Worksite website - www.worksite.actu.asn.au.
Please call 1800 659 511 (toll free) or email [email protected] if you have any questions.
-Written by D.B.Valentine - Directed by Mark Cleary
-The Edge Theatre - Cnr King & Bray Sts Newtown
-Advance previews Wed 4th & Thurs 5th August.
-Opening Friday 6th Aug to Sunday 29th Aug.
-Time: 7.30pm (tbc)
-Bookings 9645 1611 or www.mca-tix.com
-More info go to: www.newtowntheatre.com.au click on "The Edge"
Friday 6 August, 6.00pm at Town Hall, marching to Archibald Fountain in Hyde Park for a Crane and Candle ceremony.
Information: Hiroshima Day Committee, telephone Bronwyn Marks, 9982 4192.
20, 21 AND 22 AUGUST - Mercure Hotel, Brisbane
Different Voices: Common Cause?
Different Voices: Common Cause promises to deliver an environmental conference with a twist. The theme reflects an attempt to find common cause between differing perspectives on environmental issues. Can developers and environmentalists agree on anything? Is there room for the union movement to work with conservation groups to achieve better environmental and employment outcomes?
AGENDA
Friday Night: Dinner/Forum - The Environment and the Election.
Speakers include: Senator Kerry Nettle (Greens); Mr Kelvin Thomson MP (ALP); and Senator Lyn Allison (Democrats).
Places going quickly, so book now to hear what politicians have to say about the importance of the environment at election times. Includes dinner and drinks.
Saturday and Sunday - Two Streams
Environment Stream: Climate Perspectives; Urban Perspectives; Employment Perspectives; Water Perspectives; Northern Perspectives; Wildlife Perspectives.
Training and Development Stream: Managing Sponsorship; Managing Organisations; Managing Volunteers; Managing People; Managing Fundraising; Managing Media.
PRICING - includes GST
Dinner/Forum Only $70 (no concession available)
Full Conference Sat & Sun $120 ($100) + dinner $180 ($160)
Full Day - includes buffet lunch $70 ($60)
Half Day - includes tea & coffee $40 ($30)
Single Session - includes tea & coffee $ 20 ($15)
(Concessions available for current Full-Time Students and Health Care Card holders only).
http://www.qccqld.org.au/conference.htm
Places are limited. Contact Michael at
[email protected] for booking details or call
07 3221 0188.
Wednesday August 25th. Annandale Hotel
A night of excellent, up-and-coming artists showing the talent and promise of the local music industry, threatened by a Free Trade Agreement with the United States. Come and enjoy a mixture of sublime acoustic and pop music, punk, electronic wizardy, hard-rock and funk.
Celebrate it and save it!
8:15-8:45
Night-hour
Mezzinine stage
8:45-9:15
Wons
Band Stage
9:15-9:45
Urban Guerillas
Mezzinine stage
9:45:10:15
Joshua
Band Stage
10:15-10:30
Talk about FTA
Mezzinine stage
10:30-11:00
Andorra
Band Stage
Wednesday August 25th. Annandale Hotel
Parramatta Rd (Crn Nelson St), Annandale
$8 at the door
Further details at
http://www.republic.org.au/ARM-2001/news&events/NSW_Film_Night_31_August_2004_Flyer.PDF
Can the power sector save us from Climate Change? And would it if it could? Find out at a free debate moderated by Premier Bob Carr from 6 to 7pm Monday 6 September at Coles Theatre, Powerhouse Museum, 500 Harris Street, Ultimo. Full invitation with map and speaker details available from
http://www.wwf.org.au/climate/powerswitch_debate.pdf
RSVP is essential to reserve your place. Email your details to [email protected]
Postgraduates for Peace are holding a screening of Helen's War: Portrait of a Dissident - an award winning documentary made by former University of Sydney Arts-Law student Anna Broinowski. It profiles Anna's aunt, the trail-brazing anti-nuclear campaigner since the 1970s, Dr. Helen Caldicott, as she resurfaces to take on the Bush administration in the post 9/11 world. Anna Broinowski and Helen Caldicott will speak at the free screening from 6pm Thursday 2 September. RSVP: [email protected]
Organization: OVAL Research, Faculty of Education, University of Technology
6 & 7 Dec
These nights aim:
- To bring together radical film-makers, radical film buffs, and radical educators.
- To inspire educators about ways they can use film in their work.
- To inspire film-makers about ways they might facilitate learning about politics.
- To foster discussion and advocacy about this field of practice.
We are seeking videos and films under 2 categories:
1. Agitprop: protest, guerrilla, activist, political, subversive short films /videos.
2. Participatory film-making: community films/videos as social intervention.
The nights will focus on short films and video from artists, activists and educators from the international scene. Your work will be presented to an audience of educators, activists and artists delegates from of the "Education and Social Action" international conference and the general film buffs interested in activism.
The nights are a non-profit event without competition. There are therefore no prizes and no pay involved, but of course you keep the rights.
There is no limitation of geographic origin but speaking Films/Videos must be in English, or subtitled in English. Fiction, documentary, animation or experimental are accepted. Videos must be no more than 10 minutes.
The only format accepted is DVD.
Send copies with entry form to Celina McEwen, The Centre for Popular Education, UTS, PO Box 123, BROADWAY NSW 2007 AUSTRALIA. Entry copies will not be returned, so don't send originals. To confirm receipt your video/film, send a self-addressed stamped postcard.
Deadline for entries is September 30, 2004. Individuals and organisations can submit unlimited number of films, but should complete a separate entry form for each film. All the films may be put on the same tape.
Entry forms can be downloaded from www.cpe.uts.edu.au/pdfs/FPLentry.pdf
For further information email Celina on (02) 9514 3847 or [email protected]
Conservation Volunteers Australia is offering a range of weekend and week-long projects that the environmentally inclined can assist on around the state and throughout the country. From wildlife projects to clean-up bees, find out more at http://www.conservationvolunteers.com.a
The Howards - "Taxpayer-funded barnacles in Kirribilli House" - It's encouraging to see that Alan Ramsey is able to tell the kind of stories that most journalists overlook.
Young Richard Howard is now in Washington working on George W. Bush's Presidential campaign. It's a long time since Richard was 15 and was the
excuse for the Howards living at Kirribilli and not the Lodge in Canberra. Imagine the media outrage if this was a Labor Prime Minister.
Regards,
Ian West
NSW
We refer to your article headlined "Vic Bosses Spit Dummy" and we are concerned about the continued and deliberate mis-interpretation of our article and the denigration of CCCAV not only by your organisation but as a consequence by the Shadow Minister for Workplace Relations,Craig Emerson who
has done so with impunity under parliamentary privilege.
As you are obviously uninformed, Victorian Children�s Services employees, besides Local Government, are covered by the Children�s Services Victoria
Award 1998 (Federal Award) and the Health and Community Service Industry Sector Minimum Wage Order - Victoria 1997.
It is the latter employees� wages, conditions and career paths that the CCCAV, through the employer members, seeks to improve by suggesting the
adoption of AWAs. Nothing to do with the Federal Award work value case currently being considered by the AIRC.
How does this pejorate the working conditions of employees covered by Section 1A of the Worplace (sic) Relations Act 1996?
Furtermore the pay rise increment fixed in the AWA is for 2.5% per annum, not over 3 years as you incorrectly report.
How can your organisation continue to get it so wrong?
Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs) provide employers and employees with
an opportunity to develop flexible pay and conditions that suit their particular circumstances and acknowledge the industry's requirement. AWAs
can also help employers to attract and retain skilled workers, and reward them according to performance.
AWAs are formal agreements made directly between employers and individual employees under the Workplace Relations Act 1996. Unlike informal
agreements, an AWA can override award provisions, provided that the total terms and conditions of employment under the AWA at least, pass the �no
disadvantage test�. Our Framework does precisely that.
Had you and Mr Emerson taken the time to read through the Victorian Children�s Services Framework Agreement available from both our website and
that of the OEA such an inexperienced interpretation might not have occurred.
As a media outlet, lack of research and verification of issues before reporting, is incompetent, unacceptable and unforgivable.
We request that a retraction and apology be published on your website.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Regards
Frank Cusmano
Victoria
Dear Sir
After receiving much negative feedback in relation to my 'Devils Advocate' letter in relation to the possibility of James Hardie instigating proceedings against entities which colluded to injure or do economic harm, I was compelled to analyze my articulation of these views.
So, after mulling over the critique both verbal and written, I have concluded that, rather that use the biblical phrase "Cast not your pearls before swine", I would phrase it as a baggy trousered philanthropist, and "You don't feed strawberries to pigs".
Now , having relieved my self, by giving a spray of my bush lawyer type legal opinion, I would seek a more educated legal opinion from those, whom read your periodical , as to the relationship of Commonwealth law to State Law, and to my understanding as to the definition of Fraud as defined in Butterworth's." An intentional dishonest act or omission done with the purpose of deceiving."
This also being an offence in the New South Wales Crimes Act 1900, Sect 185A
In this particular example I refer to the requirements of the Social Security Act 1991 which in many sections including 605 and 607 these demanding a written agreement (rather than compliance) to perform certain functions by the signing of documents with which they may although , a citizen complying with the conditions imposed, they may not agree with them, the purpose being to obtain what is their entitlements , as laid down not only In Commonwealth Law but many international treaties including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
My question is - as a government Minister is responsible for their department , the application and administration of its governing legislation, is the Commonwealth Minister of Social Security, guilty of an offence against the New South Wales Crimes Act Sect185A, by inducing a person to enter into an arrangement by misleading statements?
If this is the case will the Department of Public Prosecutions act in initiating a prosecution in not only the public interest, but in the interest of good governance?
"The empty half of the glass is always at the top"
Salik Games
USA
Why has the fight against the State Governments Workers' Compensation stopped? The system is minimising the benefits received by injured workers on a daily basis. The Commissions panel of Doctors is stacked with insurance company Doctors who are no longer actively practising medicine. I have many clients who have been ripped off by the Commissions Doctor with very few reaching the 10% Whole person inmpairment required to qualify for pain and suffering.
Workcover is constantly issuing fines of up to $500,000.00 for breaches of
the OH&S Act. Perhaps they might consider giving some money to victims.
One of my clients with the assistance of her Rehabilitation provider was able to commence a work trial. In order for the work trial to succeed the worker required training and equiptment at an estimated cost of $6,000.00.
The Insurer accepted and on that basis the worker was employed. Workcover intervened and stated that the worker was "taking advantage of the system."
Did Workcover consider that perhaps the 'evil' worker wishes to live a productive life and stop relying on the insurer for a wage of $327.00 p.w.
Peter Anjos
That was his solemn pledge in the months leading up to the 1996 election that 'no Australian workers would be worse off' under a Howard Government.
It was a line the media swallowed hook. line and sinker, effectively denting the campaign by the ALP and unions to unpack his industrial relations agenda and show how deregulation would harm working Australians.
Eight years on the lie stands and continues to be perpetuated: that labour market deregulation delivers better living standards for workers.
On the rare occasions the Tories are pressed to explain how this is so they speak of the 'freedom' to take up casual jobs, the increased job opportunities created by freeing small business of their legal obligations and the increased economic activity caused by lower labour costs,
To this the Howard Government has dedicated itself to 'reforming' industrial relations system - stripping back the powers of industrial relations commission, promoting individual contracts and leading the most vicious attack on unions in the nation's history.
And it is in the execution of this blueprint that John Howard's lie is exposed.
Australians are working longer, they are more likely to be in casual or part-time work, they have fewer rights to take industrial action than before John Howard became Prime Minister.
But these are all value calls; now the Australian Bureau of Statistics has put a dollar figure on the extent of the PM's lie.
Data released this week shows a fall of half a per cent in total earnings over the last quarter, proof of a surge in low paid jobs.
Other research is equally as damning.
Earlier this year, the ABS found there had been a statistically significant widening of the gap between rich and poor in recent years.
Recent research by Dr Peter Saunders of the UNSW also shows that since the election of the Howard Government in 1996, Australia's top income earners have received almost half the benefit of all economic growth and that their income has increased more than eight times that of the poorest income earners.
While the PM trots out his unemployment figures, he ducks the reality that two out of every three net new jobs created in the last three years paid less than $600 a week - less than $31,200 a year.
Meanwhile, almost one million Australians are working overtime but not being paid for it. This is an increase of almost a quarter since 1996.
There are now more than 2.2 million casual workers - an increase of 22 per cent since 1996 while part time jobs growth continues to outstrip full time jobs growth with no full time jobs created in the last month but an extra 21,600 part-time jobs.
More than 28 per cent of the total workforce are now in part time work and yet research shows there are more than 600,000 part time workers wanting more hours of work.
As for equality, CEOs get a reality cheque 74 times average weekly earnings and golden parachutes on failure, while the numbers say that the more you pay the executive the worse the company performs.
The numbers add up to a lie every bit as stark as the 'never ever GST', the children overboard and the Iraqi Weapons of Mass Destruction.
The truth? Howard's Australia has delivered a shift in wealth from the middle and working classes to the corporations and elites off the back of a workforce working longer for less and stripped of their rights.
If you believe that Australian workers are not worse off under a Howard Government, then you'd believe that signiing an AWA was an act of personal empowerment.
Peter Lewis
Editor
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