The economy has never been better,the current account is massively in the black, un-employment is falling. With all the aformentioned why the IR o/haul. I do not trust howard and his ilk no way at all.
numbat

"Many liberals hoped that with control of the Senate, Howard would move towards significant deregulation of the labour market … Their hopes have been dashed. A golden opportunity has been lost for want of moral clarity and political courage."

So now the penny drops! I was wondering how long will it would take for these ideologically pure conservatives to realise that Howard is practicing his own home brand, willy nilly, adhoc version of political conservativism. Like the weather it changes every other day.

Des is correct. The minimum wage is a pox on society. It criminalises a whole range of employment creating opportunities.

Terje, at the risk of getting personal, would you be able to maintain your current lifestyle on the present minimim wage? Further, what would you do if your minimum wage was subject to reduction at the whim of your employer? I am trying to persuade you to take a walk in other's shoes.

At different points in my life I have had to survive on less than the minimum due to illness, so I have a fairly good idea of what poverty means.I have eaten stale food or skipped meals altogether just to be able to pay bills.

The IR reforms will be dependant upon the largess of employers. The motivation for employers is maximum profit. Do you not see the potential for conflict. Do you not believe that all Australians have a right to a roof over their heads, food on the table and clothes on their backs?

I realise that the impact on the least powerful members of society is not what the topic is strictly about. However it appears to me from reading about the reforms is that they do not give employers as much power as they would desire and virtually dissolves any rights that workers in small businesses had to protect their standard of living. All in all a complete farce.

Howard is losing face - finally - among his senators. There is something to be said for a minority government it is easier to keep control on the ranks. Now it is very large and consequently, more difficult for Howard to hold the reins over all as he has done previously.

We do live in interesting times.

QUOTE: Terje, at the risk of getting personal, would you be able to maintain your current lifestyle on the present minimim wage?

ANSWER: No.

QUOTE: Further, what would you do if your minimum wage was subject to reduction at the whim of your employer?

ANSWER: I think you mean "wage" not "minimum wage". Employers negotiate a wage, Governments set the minimum wage. Most employers would like to pay zero if they could still have motivated and happy staff. However there is a market of jobs out there and employers know it. For most jobs most employers pay well above the legal minimum.

QUOTE: At different points in my life I have had to survive on less than the minimum due to illness, so I have a fairly good idea of what poverty means.

ANSWER: I lived for several years (5 actually) on much less than the minimum wage. According to the article the minimum wage for a full time worker is $25000pa. For a dole receipient it is $11000pa. I never felt that I was in poverty. My stomach was full every night, I had good friends and my bed was always warm. I did find it odd that I was still required to pay income tax.

You see a reduction in the minumum wage as an attack on the weakest members of our society. I see it as a way to create new jobs for those that don't currently have one. And when everybody has a job we will not need a statutory minimum wage to ensure that Australians have a roof over their heads, food on the table and clothes on their backs?

Why should we be contemplating lower minimum wages when the wealth gap continues to surge at an unprecedented rate. Until we have ethical and moral responsibility from executives with absurdly high salaries and add ons, the rest will not get a fair deal. Leading by example starts at the top - not at the bottom.