Piers Watch

Piers on the Social Audit

Judging from his attack on Michael Costa's proposal for a social audit this week, we must be starting to get to Piers.

Indeed, in pounding Labor Council, Piers has forced himself into the unpalatable situations of leading the cheer squad of Premier Bob Carr - a position that couldn't sit comfortably with either party.

In his piece "Social Audit the Way to Bankruptcy", Akerman seems to be arguing that Carr has done so well "in the election-winning fields of education and transport", that he doesn't need to look at the broader issues of service distrubtion in the state.

The piece itself is a classic example of Piers' cut and paste research and knee-jerk reaction.

First, he summarises the series of press stories that have been run since the election where Costa has called on Carr to seize his second term majority to pursue some meaningful social reform.

Then he dismisses the proposals one by one with flippant responses such as "the enthronement of a secretariat of social workers" (the social audit) "anti-job" (industrial reforms to promote job security) and "decriminalising marijuana" (enough said).

Finally, he weaves these disparate attacks together, accusing Labor Council of pursuing an "inherantly crazy agenda".

Problem is, Piers has totally missed the point.

The social audit idea is not about "meet(ing) unlimited welfarist wishes with limited public funds". On the contrary, it about isolated the areas of worst problem in a rational way so limited resources can be better allocated to areas of greatest need -- rather than keeping them with the urban elites and "chattering classes" who Piers so regularly despises.

But why debate the merits of the proposal, when you can give us another kick, eh, Piers? And then to have the gall to suggest unions should focus on recruiting, on the same pages as you've been bagging us for trying to turn Currawong into a training faciltity?? And we're running the crazy agendas???

Perversely, the attack will only give the proposal greater credibility amongst the Labor troops. I mean, if Piers thinks it's a dumb idea, we've got to be doing something right.

  View entire issue - print all of the articles!

  Issue 9 contents

»	Public Speaks: We Are Not Monsters!
»	Qantas to Dump Aussie Accents
»	Carr�s Faction Call Music to Costa�s Ears
»	But Thumbs Down to Small Business Labor...
»	Blow for Reith's Anti-Unionism
»	Un-Reconstructed Unionists on Study Tour
»	Unionists to Celebrate May Day
»	Tanner to Bragg with Billy

»	Guest Report
»	Sport
»	Trades Hall
»	Piers Watch

»	Social Audit: Where's the Left?
»	Piers, Piers, Piers
»	Conspiracy of Silence?
»	Y2K plus VCR Equals SCAM

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