
Issue No 74		20 October 2000

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Letters to the Editor

The Great Reformer?

Typical of the union movement to call a great reformer like Peter Reith a "rorter".

Trade unionists and other long-suffering taxpayers must accept that there are now different standards for different classes of people. The dead hand of socialism - for that is what the Aussie tradition of a fair go really is - has passed its use by date.

As Peter pointed out, the letter of the regulations may have said that telecards and their PIN numbers could only be used personally by a member of Parliament but it was "common practice and custom" to allow staffers and even hotel receptionists to have them.

A "Common practice and custom" is very different from a rort. Only someone on a wage or salary can rort.

Politicians do not receive a wage or salary from the taxpayer - they receive remuneration.

Wages and working conditions for the low paid and powerless are set out in awards, and these must be stripped away if Australia is to remain internationally competitive. Factories can always be moved to where people are happy to work for a dollar or two a day.

Remuneration, on the other hand, is set by the Remuneration Tribunal, and every last detail of every perk and allowance for politicians must be set down in concrete by that body.

Trade Unionist will already know that to remain competitive, workers' wages must be set as low as possible. Executive salaries, too, must be internationally competitive but here the same competitive forces mean that executives need to receive generous packages. Those over a million dollars annually now are very internationally competitive. Without this, Australian industry would need to battle on with Australian CEO's rather than benefit from superior wisdom of Americans.

The Remuneration Tribunal, as befitting a body setting the financial rewards for our nation's leaders, realises that we must set politicians' pay in the same way our company boards set the remuneration for executives. Paypacket increases must always be far greater than those of any wage or salary earner.

Politicians receive generous superannuation to provide for a few luxuries in their retirement. After a full two terms as Minister, Peter would be entitled to have his super based on his Ministerial salary, sorry remuneration. He only has twelve months or so to go - and it would be a real pity if he missed out on these extra payments for life, probably valued at a million dollars or so, simply because he was forced from office early.

Peter has done so much for Industrial Relations, a grateful nation, and a more responsible trade union movement, should deny him nothing.

Noel Baxendell

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Issue 74 contents

Interview: Politics Italian Style
Italian journalist's union official Rodolfo Falvo talks to Peter Lewis about Italy's Rupert Murdoch and why Italian politics is so crazy.

Unions: A Partnership That Works
Students at Williamstown High in Victoria are benefiting from a creative partnership with TAFE and the Electrical Trades Union. Kevin Peoples reports.

International: Fiji Paymasters Fill Their Own Pockets
The Interim Administration imposed on the people of Fiji, as a result of the coup-makers, have voted themselves a hefty pay increase at the same time as they demand public sector workers take a twelve per cent pay cut.

Politics: USA Campaign 2000 - On the Road
Michael Gadiel reports on the thrills, spills, highs and lows of the US Presidential Election.

Women: Party Girl
'You can take the girl out of the Port, but you can't take the Port out of the girl' - Stephanie Key recounts her life as a feminist in a male bastion, the Transport Workers Union.

Satire: Telstra to issue $50,000 Reith Phonecard
CANBERRA, Monday: Telstra have announced Peter Reith-themed phonecard. The phonecard allows friends and family to make $50,000 worth of phone calls on it before you receive a bill. Plus, you only have to pay the bill in total if there is sufficient public outrage, otherwise the card costs just $950.

Review: Health, Wealth and Mutual Obligations
Mutual obligation for the poor only, increasing income inequality and a widening health gap. Welcome to the 21st century -or is it the 19th?

» Bitter Dispute Ends With Joyful Tidings

» Bodgy Telemarketers Face Union Wrath

» Another Bastard Bank On Rampage

» Employers Reject Individual Contracts

» Time To Come Clean

» Child Care Workers Tell Kim How Howard Nicked Their Money

» Reith Must Apologise Say Hotel Workers

» Telstra Too Smart On Casuals

» Primed To Win

» Payday Nightmare Follows AFFA Outsourcing

» Palestinian Community Seeks Union Support

» Trade Union Choir Rocks Town Hall

» WorkCover Goes For Gold In Paralympics