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Year End 2005 | |
Interview: Back to the Future Unions: A Real Page Turner Industrial: The Pin-Striped Union International: Around The World In 365 Days Legends: Terrific, Tommy Your Rights At Work: Worth Fighting For Politics: The Year That Was Economics: Master and Servant Revisited Culture: 2005: The Year of Living Repetitively Bad Boss: The Bottom Ten Religion: Hymns from a Different Song Sheet
Predictions The Soapbox Parliament The Locker Room Postcard
Waves of Destruction
Harper's Bizarre Excuse for Failure Workers Walk As Warnings Wiped Professionals Fear for Their Kids
Free to Rat Tax Cuts and Cockroaches Proportion, Not Distortion Corp That!
Labor Council of NSW |
Predictions The Crystal Ball
John Robertson, secretary Unions NSW: Workplace relations in 2006 will continue to be a talking point for more and more working people in Australia. This will occur for two reasons, firstly because the union movement will capitalise on the campaign it has commenced and secondly rogue employers will not be able to resist the opportunities presented by the Howard Government's changes to exploit ordinary working people and the most vulnerable in our community. Federal politics will be more of the same unfortunately in 2006 with the Howard Government having control of both houses of Parliament. What is almost certain is that the arrogance of the Federal Government will continue to grow ensuring the views of ordinary Australians are ignored. Finally, with a bit of luck, the federal ALP will have a leader who can and will articulate a policy on workers' rights that is clear, concise and abolishes AWAs, gives workers the right to be treated fairly and restores the role of the AIRC to set minimum wages and resolve disputes. John Howard will stay on as Prime Minister and Peter Costello will continue jockey and manoeuvre waiting for the leadership to be placed in his lap because he is too lazy to work for it and too gutless to challenge for it. Meanwhile John Howard will make sure he positions Costello at every opportunity. Barnaby Joyce will continue to talk himself up at every available opportunity and then do what he has done on Telstra and industrial relations - backflip. But in 2006 he will do it with pike. Mark Lennon, assistant secretary Unions NSW: Chaos generally as people try to work out the new laws - but only a downside for working people. A resurgent ALP will bring increasing pressure on a tired Government. A new look Wallabies will start their march towards a World Cup victory in 2007. Andrew Ferguson, secretary CFMEU Construction Divison, NSW branch: Tony Abbott to become Prime Minister of Australia after a vicious battle with Peter Costello that will see John Howard go in to bat for his extreme Right mate. Julia Gillard will become deputy leader of the Parliamentary Opposition. Costello will be forced into an embarrassing back down over tax deductibility for the James Hardie settlement after a campaign, by victims and their families, in the New Year. John Sutton, national secretary, CFMEU Construction Division. Howard gone before 2006 is out, with Peter Costello taking over as Prime Minister. Julia Gillard become Deputy Leader of the Opposition and, Makybe Diva to win her fourth Melbourne Cup or, at the very least, to run in the race. Sally McManus, secretary ASU: John Howard will resign in March. I am optimistic about success for the union movement in 2006. High profile disputes, such as Qantas and Boeing, will keep workers rights at the forefront of people's minds. John Howard may have thrown everything he could at the union movement but it hasn't and won't kill it off. Julius Roe, president AMWU National: John Howard will remain PM and that will wipe the smirk off Peter Costello's face. Workers' anger will grow, as will the strength of our campaign. Employers won't be able to help themselves and will use the WorkChoices legislation. Ian West, Member of the Legislative Council, ALP, and columnist at Workers Online: In 2006, Peter Debnam will blink during a TV interview, the NSW Constitution will be amended so that to be eligible to stand for Parliament you must look good in wrestling tights and have at least a brown belt in a martial arts. John Howard will say he's sorry and admit Tony Abbott is his illegitimate son and that Mark Latham will be appointed by John Howard to head Australia's diplomatic efforts in the world troublespots. Lee Rhiannon, Member of the Legislative Council, NSW Greens: Greens and unions will realise that by working together we can create jobs whilst tackling climate change. Thousands of new jobs in renewable energy will be the result. Peter Lewis, editor at Workers Online: Howard pulls pin in August and Costello smirks into power. Costello's skeletons - shafting workers at Dollar Sweets -come out of the closet. We'll see tax cuts for all, just don't mention workers' rights!
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