E D I T O R I A L

Lord of the Lobster Legs
It was probably only shame that prompted the Prime Minister to drag himself away from a $250 per head fundraiser to meet with a group of emergency workers in Wollongong this week. But, this in itself may be a development.

F E A T U R E S

Interview: Under Fire
Michael Crosby outlines his agenda to save the movement � and explains why Australians have nothing to fear from the SEIU.

Politics: And the Winners Are ...
Wal King, Allan Moss, Roger Corbett, Chip Goodyear, Michael Chaney and David Murray have lots in common, writes Jim Marr.

Industrial: Un-Australian
Labour lawyer Clive Thompson argues the changes to IR are fundamentally at odds with the national tradition of consesensus.

Economics: The Common Wealth
As the policy wonks debate the future of our cities, Neale Towart mounts a simple argument: It�s the real people in a society, stupid

History: Walking for Justice
The Eight Hour Day, a very Australian celebration, had its origins in New Zealand it seems, writes Neale Towart.

International: Deja Vu
A group of trade unions have walked away from America's peak council, again. Labourstart's Eric Lee was there.

Legal: The Rights Stuff
Terror laws have sparked a fresh debate on a Bill of Rights - and workers have a bigger stake than ever before, writes Rachael Osman-Chin.

Review: That Cinderella Fella
Russell trades the phone for mitts in an inspiring cinematic slug-fest. Nathan Brown is ringside

Poetry: Is Howard Kidding?
Mel Cheal asks who Howard thinks he is kidding to the tune of the �Dad�s Army� theme song.

N E W S

Family Grieves an Enterprise Worker

All Quiet in Dandenong

Hotline Gets Wires Crossed

High Flyer Crashes Families

Bolt Strikes Lecturer

Good Heavens - Della Plays Santa

Maori Take Challenge to Canberra

Drips Fail Water Test

Hardie Shuts the Door

Hadgkiss Threatens Protesters

Army Fires Salvo

The Munro Doctrine

IR Sparks Emergency Call

Tassie Jobs Hit By Truck

Canberra Coy on Promised Statements

Inquiry to Speak No Evil

Activist's What's On!

C O L U M N S

The Soapbox
No Place For A Woman!
Doreen Borrow spoke to the Public Service Association�s women�s conference in September about her experiences of working life that span seven decades.

Postcard
North By Northwest
Phil Doyle returns from up north, where he survived on nothing but goodwill, good people and a great big orange bus.

The Locker Room
Disaster
In which Whatsisname slams the recent poor form of Thingummyjig.

Parliament
The Westie Wing
Our favourite MP, Ian West MLC, gets all casual in his latest missive from the Bear Pit.

L E T T E R S

WHAT YOU CAN DO

	About Workers Online
	Latest Issue
	Print Latest Issue
	Previous Issues
	Advanced Search

other LaborNET sites

Labor Council of NSW
Vic Trades Hall Council
IT Workers Alliance
Bosswatch
Unions on LaborNET
Evatt Foundation

Politicians

Your Workers on Line editorial makes me feel it�s way past time for the great majority of Australian citizens to wake up and stop behaving like pre schoolers waiting at a pedestrian crossing. What law are you writing about Peter? Are you a bit previous or perhaps the Labor party is realising they are too late? I understand most approaches to the heavily advertised (with our federal tax dollars) advice line, will result in a full stop response �I don�t know� when enquiries are pursued up to the supervisors on the Howard governments Work Choice 1800 number. There is no surprise that 50 workers at Artarmon have already been given a taste of the future. I believe phone enquiries were answered with a reading from what is believed to be the proposed legislation, and based on key words within the enquiry. Because there is in fact no legislation gazetted. I hope people are beginning to share my perception of government�s which may be identified as �gatherings of apparently IR!

responsible empty headed individuals with very little moral fibre and not much of a political compass. Who when pressured by their angry constituents tend to reveal themselves to be political chameleons.� All the political parties are involved in the accommodation of this offensive interference with what the people had perceived as workable government. None of them are acting �in the best interest of their constituents while their time on the public stage continues to be spent jockeying for positions with eyes focused on the next election. These men and women are allowing millions in tax payers dollars to be squandered. Listening to Senator Eric Abetz respond to Maxine Mckew�s question about the confusion evident on talkback programmes during the preceding week. I felt the Senator was happy to have his government in the centre of all this public confusion. Listening to political debate like the interview of Smith and Abetz on Friday nights Lateline, I suspect I am!

Can you hear the fiddles playing?

Edward James, NSW

  View entire issue - print all of the articles!

  Issue 286 contents

© 1999-2002 Workers Online
Workers Online is a resource for the Labour movement
provided by the Labor Council of NSW
URL: http://workers.labor.net.au/286/news9_Politicians.html
Last Modified: 15 Nov 2005