John Howard has forgotten what the real world is like. Employers are definitely not Santa Clauses, thats why unions were formed in the first place. I recall a lot of employer tricks, like firing a person just before a 20 year payout, or conning young people into working as a 'trial' and then informing them that they're not suitable - no pay, of course. The unfair dismissal laws need to be tightened, not abolished. What is to stop employers returning to the bad old days when you could lose your position because some manager didnt like you, or someone wanted your job for their cousin.

The IR laws need to be streamlined and tightened, but this seems to be going too far in the other direction.

Prosperity for who, Mr Gollan?

“Where wages are high, accordingly we shall always find the workmen more active, diligent, and expeditious than when wages are low: Adam Smith - “Wealth of Nations.”

From a great thinker who not only invented the free market, but also had the insight and common sense to reason that because his Laissez-faire gave freedom for the entrepreneur from government interference, the worker also had to be better looked after by governments by instilling better wages and better conditions.

It is the reason we have an arbitration system to handle such things lawfully, as Smith would have wanted, but with the Howard government virtually in full control with a captured Senate, there must be or should be, what hopes to be a host of older lawful and experienced eyes focused on this government, making sure that our existing arbitration laws are not interfered with.

Adam Smith’s quote gives reminder of my young wife at the time when we had been farming enough years to put on workers. In this case it was the fairer sex who suggested we offer our tried workers a reasonably good wage, and in a good season even a share of the crop. It was where an interest in sport sort of helped to bind boss and worker together. In this way it makes one feel grateful to a wonderful personage like Smith in his Wealth of Nations, for reminding us that though seeing the need for entrepreneurs, he would have also welcomed the later arbitration system to counteract the greed - a system that in all truth is now also part of his “invisible hand,” for those who believe in fair play.

George C, WA - Bushbred

Mr. Gollan stated: "Changes to unfair dismissal laws will also be a major element in the forthcoming IR package and could be the litmus test for the eventual success of the reform package as a whole."

Unfair dismissal laws are unfair whether they are for an employer with more than 100 employees or only 3 employees. My understanding is that with these IR reforms, for employers with less than 100 employees there will be no unfair dismissal requirement.

I oppose unfair dismissal, no matter how many employees. Is justice for employees of small employers going down the tube with this IR reform?

Will Senator Barnaby Joyce stand up for employees of small employers this time?

In this morning's paper john howard said - "IR laws will get rid of pests" That's sacking those who fellow employees, and the boss no doubt, consider to be a 'pain in the neck'(fair honest john's term)
Such as those who don't like dirty jokes eh little john.
Or those who have a different belief system and who want live by their beliefs at work.
Or perhaps those who do not like their bosses and/or workmates acting like sexual predators.
There are a stack of reasons fellow employees or bosses can use to paint the one who doesn't fit in as in honest little john's words 'a pain in the neck' worthy of being unemployed.
Please see this man er politician for exactly what he is. numbat

More than 90% of jobs created since 1996, have been casual part time of less than 25 hours a week.

As most receive less $15 per hr, the average take home pay for these jobs, equates to under $250 a week.

These reforms are just another step on the road to one party control (lib/lab) and dictatorship. They both give the illusion that they are different, but reality shows that they are one and the same evil.

But wait, don't you all vote for either one, if not why are they still there. No excuse saying, no choice, after all we all have ideas that seem to be better than the ruling class, as can be seen by these forums.

So why wouldn't non aligned, ordinary people be more capable of running this country for us rather than for the minority elite, that is destroying all facets of our enjoyable society.

Could it be that we are too enslaved to have other than a voice in the background whilst our lives deteriorate into slavery.

Quite right Alchemist and such a movement has to start somewhere.What better start than " Now We the People" whose third National Conference in Melbourne last July to 'Advance Australia Fair--building sustainability,justice and peace' has made a start to reinvigorate our democratic institutions and the community's collective strength. Check it out on www.nowwethepeople.org and become a part of positive democratic change.