E D I T O R I A L

I'm No Economist, But ….
I'm no economist, but there a few things about the national economic debate right now that I don't quite get.

F E A T U R E S

Interview: Rock Solid
Bill Shorten gives the inside story on the Australian Workers Union's involvement in the Beaconsfield rescue.

Industrial: Eight Simple Rules for Employing My Teenage Daughter
Phil Oswald bought up his kids to believe in their rights; so when his 16-year old daughter was told to cop a pay cut she was never going to take it quietly.

Politics: The Johnnie Code
WorkChoices is encrypted deep in the PM's political DNA, writes Evan Jones

Energy: Fission Fantasies
Adam Ma’anit looks at the big business push behind the 'clean nuclear' debate that is sweeping the globe.

History: All The Way With Clarrie O'Shea
The WorkChoices Penal Powers are the latest in a long line of penal sanctions against trade unions, writes Neale Towart

International: Closer to Home
If Australia can forgive its debt to Iraq, why not to Indonesia and the Philippines, write Luke Fletcher and Karen Iles

Economics: Taking the Fizz
While the Treasurer has been popping the post-Budget champers, Frank Stilwell gives a more sober assessment.

Unions: Stronger Together
Amanada Tattersall looks at the possibilities of strengthening alliances between unions, environmental and community organisations

Review: Montezuma's Revenge
Tommy Lee Jones directs and stars in a film about racism and retribution, writes James Gallaway.

Poetry: Fair Go Gone
Employers in the land rejoice, for we are girt by greed.

N E W S

Grandmother Fights Fabrication Company

Bog Standards, Hanssen Exposed

Foxtel Channels Contracts

Telstra Dials Up A Shocker

Viva La Resolution

Smirk Boss Loses Control

Iemma Told To Change At Central

On The Tiles

APHEDA Offices Attacked

Vanstone Sits On Wages

PM Slap for Battered Women

"Spineless" Andrews Apologises

Howard Lags “Best Practice”

Harper's Bizarre Theories

Process Abused - Call Peter McIlwain

Activists What's On!

C O L U M N S

The Soapbox
The Beaconsfield Declaration
As the Prime Minister feted Brant Webb and Todd Russell, their colleagues were outside with a message to the rest of Australia.

The Locker Room
Run Like You Stole Something
Phil Doyle observes that there are some tough bastards out there.

Parliament
The Westie Wing
That fun-loving friend of the workers, Ian West, reports from the red leather of the Bear Pit.

Education
Class Action
Phil Bradley draws the lines between education funding and the current skills crisis.

L E T T E R S

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PM Slap for Battered Women

Over 80,000 vulnerable Australians could lose services because of Canberra's refusal to match state funding for award pay increases in the community sector.

Services facing the axe include supported accommodation services (refuges) for women, children and families; home and community services, such as meals on wheels, neighbour aid, community transport and home help; and legal services for low-income earners.

Refuges play a vital role in helping women facing domestic violence, while home and community services are a lifeline for many older and disabled people.

The Council of Social Service of NSW (NCOSS) says almost 7000 front line community service organisations in NSW face closure unless the Federal Government follows the NSW Government's lead and jointly funds wage increases for staff.

"The decision by the NSW government to fund wage increases for community services staff will help to keep the doors open of the 7000 non government organisations delivering vital human services across this state," says NCOSS Director, Mr Gary Moore. "However, the commonwealth government has so far refused to spend an extra cent on meeting the Award. This leaves joint funded programs still under threat.

"While Mr Costello sits on a budget surplus of $10.8 billion, community organisations that provide help to people with disability will be struggling to meet legal obligations to their workers.

"Homeless services, women's refuges and free legal services all face the same fate."

NCOSS costs the shortfall for home and community care services at $3.5 million per year for a program that has a total budget of $450 million.

The Australian Services Union has backed NCOSS, slamming Costello's priorities.

"Costello is happy to fund huge superannuation payouts and tax cuts for high income earners but he wont give front line services the money they need to help the frail elderly," says ASU Secretary Sally McManus.

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Last Modified: 09 Jun 2006