E D I T O R I A L

Good Versus Evil
So it's come to this - working women's groups that alert clients to union activities will be denied federal government funding and, effectively, forced to close.

F E A T U R E S

Interview: A Life And Death Matter
Macquarie Street and Canberra are squaring off over safety in the workplace, NSW Minister for Industrial relations, John Della Bosca, explains what's at stake.

Unions: Fighting Back
When John Howard's building industry enforcer started threatening people's homes, one couple hit the road. Jim Marr met them in Sydney.

Industrial: What Cowra Means
The ruling on the Cowra abattoir case highlights the implications of the new IR rules, according to John Howe and Jill Murray

Environment: Scrambling for Energy Security
Howard Government hypocrisy is showcased in its climate change manoeuvring, Stuart Rosewarne writes:

Politics: Page Turner
A new book leaves no doubt about whether the faction came before the ego, Nathan Brown writes.

Economics: The State of Labour
The capacity of the state to shape the political economy and thus improve the social lives of the people must be reasserted, argues Geoff Dow.

International: Workers Blood For Oil
A new book by Abdullah Muhsin and Alan Johnson lifts the lid on the bloody reality of US backed democracy for Iraq's trade unions

History: Liberty in Spain
Worker Self-Management is good management. The proof in Spain was in Catalania, Andalusia and continues in the Basque Country, as Neale Towart explains.

Review: Go Roys, Make A Noise
Phil Doyle thought he'd find nostalgia, but instead Vulgar Press' new book, Maroon & Blue is a penetrating insight into the suburban mind under stress.

N E W S

Sprung: Light on Day

Mal Content to Challenge King

More Standover Tactics in WA

Qantas Holidays Delayed 150 Years

Hockey Wields Stick

We Have Ways of Cutting Your Pay

Jihad Johnny Targets Women

Council Workers Talk The Walk

Trujillo Slices Millions Off Bottom Line

Vehicle Jobs on Skids

Teachers Suspend Selves

Bishop Damns WorkChoices

Workers Rights On The Road

ACTU Backs Business, Germans

Activist's What's On!

C O L U M N S

The Locker Room
Ruled Out
Phil Doyle plays by the rules

Fiction
Tommy's Apprentice
Chapter One - Tommy and "The Boy"

Politics
Westie Wing
Ian West wonders what might happen if the NSW Coalition actually did win power next March at the State elections.

L E T T E R S

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Pimps and Prostitutes

The Howard Government lacks vision, commitment and integrity.

And although, as a member of the National Party, the Minister for Transport, Warren Truss, may be Army Green on the outside, he is still Yellow on the inside and has fled the battle to save Australian Shipping.

As a Stevedore I have serious concerns as to why the Howard Government recently rejected key findings by the Productivity Commission. It recommended repealing Part 10 of the Trade Practices Act which gives foreign shipping companies immunity from key parts of Australian trade practices law.

Like pimps, the Howard Government have embarked upon prostituting our Nations Flag and the environment by favouring sub-standard vessels registered in tax-havens and third world nations that employ low-skilled foreign labour to carry our nations imports and exports.

Each year the Howard Government issues approximately one thousand single voyage and continuous voyage permits (svp-cvp). A recipe for an environmental disaster and a policy that has left our ports open to the threat of terrorist acts-as the Howard Government turns a blind-eye to security checks and balances upon foreign workers and corporations.

The foul stench of the Howard Government's hypocrisy and anti-Australian shipping policies would make an onion cry.

Recently a Flag of Convenience vessel the Alexandros that was inspected by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority in Port Hedland, March 2005 broke apart and sank off the coast of South Africa on the 3rd May 2006.

What is needed is to implement a National Dry-Dock policy that would inspect all vessels that enter Australian waters and on a mandatory three to four year basis, rather than the rubber stamp approvals of the Howard Government.

Such policy would ensure the resurrection of Australia's Merchant Ship building capabilities and provide skills and employment opportunities for future generations.

We also need a commitment that would see Australian crew aboard all vessels trading our waters, such policy would ensure the security of our ports and waterways, protect our environment and support Australian business such as PAN shipping who are not ashamed to fly the Australian flag.

The Howard Government has a problem with all boat people not just refugees!

Sean "Governor" Ambrose, NSW

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Last Modified: 11 Aug 2006