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Issue No. 310 09 June 2006  
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
 Her Honour Judge Judith Scheindler
 Greens Are Good For You
 Calling All Micks!
 Coming Up Swinging
 Belly's Bit
 Mining For Gold
 Blood Spangled Banner
 Never To Be Repeated Offer
WHAT YOU CAN DO
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News

"Spineless" Andrews Apologises


Kevin Andrews delivered a formal apology to the NSW Industrial Relations Commission days after it was revealed his government had spent more than $300,000 trying to block increases for Australia's lowest paid workers.

In the wake of the apology, the Commission revealed it had considered contempt action against Andrews for his actions surrounding the NSW State Wage Case.

The full bench said political statements made by Andrews, whilst he was formally intervening in the case, had had the potential to bring the commission into disrepute.

The bench described Andrews' public comments as "ill advised" and "improper".

That matter appeared to have been resolved when the Solicitor General, David Bennett, QC, issued an apology on behalf of Andrews.

It was delivered after the Minister ignored repeated directions to address the substance of its demand that consideration of Unions NSW four percent claim be held over.

However, the Commonwealth has now pulled out of the case, which resumes this week.

NSW IR Minister, John Della Bosca, described the last minute withdrawal as "spineless and deceitful'.

"After demanding to be heard, the Commwealth ignored repeated direction to address the substance of its claim," Della Bosca said.

"They cannot defend the fact that they want to deny low paid workers and their families, in NSW, a wage increase.'

Meanwhile, a DEWR officer has revealed that the feds have already spent $314,441.51 in legal costs to try and block minimum wage movements.

Workplace Relations Policy Group GM, John Kovacic, said that figure would rise as their were still invoices from counsel and solicitors, Blake Dawson Waldron, to come.


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