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Please Explain
It may become the defining irony of the Howard Era that a government that rode to power on the skirt of One Nation and hung there on the bridge of the Tampa is now opening our borders to hordes of low paid guest workers.
Interview: Court's in Session
As the silks line up to challenge WorkChoices, Jeff Shaw is fighting for his own legacy - the NSW IR system.
Industrial: Whose Choices?
The Howard Government's WorkChoices legislation has been dissected by lawyers and the commentariat; now it's the turn of political economists.
Politics: Peter's Principles
Forget John Howard. The force behind WorkChoices is Peter Costello. The Prime Minister-in-waiting has devoted a lifetime to undermining the security and living standards of Australian families, Jim Marr reports.
Environment: TINA or Greener?
What does the greenhouse effect and legislation to control workers have in common, asks Neale Towart
History: Its Not Just Handshakes and Aprons
Power. They have it, we want it. Friendly societies tried to keep it for working people, writes Neale Towart
International: US Locks out Jose' Bove
The US Government has refused to allow France's most famous farmer Jose Bove into the country to address a conference
Education: No AWA - No Job
The Howard Government has given the Australian community its first view of the future by forcing new staff at Ballarat University to sign an Australian Workplace Agreement if they want a job, writes Jenny Macklin.
Culture: Jesus was a Long-Grass Man
The writings of a Middle Eastern theologian may provide guidance to those grappling with indigenous issues, writes Graham Ring
Review: Charlie the Serf
Nathan Brown takes the sledgehammer (and sickle) to Mr Wonka's Chocolate Factory.
 Local Jockey Odds Shorten
Conscience II - RU4 Aussie Jobs?
Online Porkies Spark Class Action
Captain Cook Discovers WorkChoices
Skippy's Escape Breaks Law
PM's Pay Day
STOP PRESS - 262 Day Strike Set To Finish
Strike Sticks it to Glue Boss
Fair Pay Chief Wages War
Millionaires Score Tax Break
Memo Costa: Remember Your Roots
Gate Crashing Gourmet
Australia Mum On Basic Rights
Filipinos Pay for Packed House
Son of Wal-Mart Pinged $2M
Trust Me, I�m a Unionist
Activist's Whats On!
The Soapbox
Hitler in Bowral
Political censorship has made its wasy to the sleepy Southern Highlands, wrties Rowan Cahill. The Locker Room
No Laughing Matter
Phil Doyle tries to take Australian sportspeople seriously, and fails. Parliament
The Westie Wing
Ian West is mistakenly sent an advance copy of John Winston Howard�s Little Blue Book of Australian History�
AWB Kickbacks to Iraq
The Black GST
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News
Fair Pay Chief Wages War
The head of the Howard Government�s new Fair Pay Commission says if the minimum wage is too low, workers should take a second job or take social security.
Conceding the minimum wage could be heading south, professor Ian Harper told a BCA dinner this week, that he will not be looking at the minimum wage as a worker's sole source of income.
"An important part of what we do is thinking about how minimum wages actually articulate with the tax and social security systems, so that we can think separately about incomes and the wage," he said.
"Now you can't just totally separate the two but understanding how those two are connected is one of our priorities."
Harper says he will also focus on the plight of the unemployed rather than minimum wage earners - a clear indication that he wants to bring the minimum wage down in real terms.
ACTU secretary Greg Combet says there is no justification for cutting the real wages of award workers and the new pay Commissioner should rule this out immediately.
"It is wrong for the Commissioner to flag the prospect of a real wage cut when he hands down his first decision due later this year," Combet says.
"The economy is performing well and minimum wage workers deserve a decent share of national productivity. Living expenses keep going up and so wages for hard-working award workers should go up as well."
Combet also called on Professor Harper to take into consideration the dignity of work. "People must be able to receive a fair day's pay for a fair day's work and should not be forced to rely on welfare to maintain a decent standard of living."
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Issue 295 contents
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