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The Great Repression
In a rare outbreak of candour in Federal Parliament this week we have seen the Prime Minister admit the five-day week is going out the door and his leader of business, Tony Abbott, blow kisses across the House.
Interview: Public Defender
The CPSU's Stephen Jones has confronted the Howard Government's IR agenda at close quarters.
Legal: Craig's Story
An inquest in western NSW is a cautionary tale of the use of AWAs, writes Ian Latham
Unions: Wrong Way, Go Back
The WorkChoice legislation sends Australia down the wrong economic road by smashing the instittutions that have made it strong, argues Greg Combet.
Industrial: WhatChoice?
The Howard Government has shown itself to be the master of illusion, writes Dr Anthony Forsyth
Politics: Queue Jumping
The changes to industrial laws, betray a new vision of Australian society, writes James Gallaway.
History: Iron Heel
Conservative governments using laws to take away basic civil rights. It's nothing new, writes Rowan Cahill
Economics: Waging War
When was the last time you heard an Australian politician talk about incomes policy, asks Matt Thistlethwaite
International: Under Pressure
The push for UN intervention in Burma is intensifying, following a report by Vaclav Havel and Bishop Desmond Tutu into slave labour.
Poetry: Billy Negotiates An AWA
More and more people are meeting Billy, the hero of page 15 of the WorkChoices booklet, including our resident bard, David Peetz
Review: A Pertinent Proposition
Nick Cave's "Australian western" touches on some themes still relevant today, Julianne Taverner writes.
Nobody Expects the Construction Inquisition
Howard in Redundancy Raid
States Sidestep Wage Hurdle
Catholics Bless Day of Action
PacNat Bids to Railroad Future
Feds Authorise Invasion
Howard Censors Workers
Sol Plays Dumb Card
Boycott Hangs Over Hardie
Directile Dysfunction
Pirates Face Kofi Break
Miners Don�t Dig Safety Levy
Keep the Spirit Alive
Activist's What's On!
The Soapbox
Men and Women of Australia
What makes a perfect speech? Michael Fullilove has scoured Australian history to find out. The Locker Room
The Hungry Years
Phil Doyle gets the feeling we�ve been here before Culture
From Little Things
Paul Kelly's song about the battle for land rights misses one important character, writes Graham Ring Parliament
The Westie Wing
Ian West takes a look at Public Private Partnerships, and wonders if we should all just drink rum�
Just AWBul
Convict Costello
We're Just Serfin'
Take Warning
Smells Familiar
Howard's Gas
Andrews' Operandi
To the Shredder
Stop Violence
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Bosswatch
Unions on LaborNET
Evatt Foundation
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Letters to the Editor
To the Shredder
I utterly deplore the thought of the passing the the proposed IR Legislation. Also, the knowledge that should it become Law the legislation under which we (in the NSW Public service) work will be "shredded". At present the policies under which we work include family friendly leave provisions which are allow a working person to balance care-giving needs and working life - these are a "God-send!" in situations where you are trying to combine work with your caring responsibilities. I now greatly fear that we will be forced to give up either working or care in the home under these proposals.
In a society with an ageing population, which in the coming years will require more assistance to remain in their homes, rather than move to nursing homes or hostels, this legislation is to be deplored. It's very name Work-Choices" is Orwellian. "Choice" is apparently very one-sided - that of the employer/organisation. I believe that this government is in the process of committing a grave error of judgement which will have enduring consequences for the working men and women of Australia.
Diana Groves, NSW
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Issue 289 contents
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