Arjay, your reference book (almanack?) may be a little out of date.

"Our economy only has a GDP of $8 billion"

Last time I looked, which must be five years ago, Australia had a GDP in the region of $500 billion. I'm sure it hasn't shrunk that much in the meantime.

You would do yourself - and all of us - a favour by being more specific in your criticisms and more temperate in your ranting. As the owner of a small (10 person) business myself, I understand the point you are trying to make, but I suspect the message itself is getting lost in the foghorn tones you use to broadcast it.

First of all I don't have any glee in anything the Howard govt does, not that I am scoring points from one govt to another. But fluidity in letting employees choose to leave a boss because they have a choice? In this industrial climate? Get real, Industrial Cinderella! Fluidity is another way of saying that employers should not give a reason to sack people. Yes, they should have a good excuse and yes, employees should not have unfair dismissal laws all in their favour. As they don't. Refer to my previous post of AIRC case listings if you want to get a snapshot of what happens in Aust workplaces, big, small or unionised. Unfair dismissal laws in this country have not empowered the worker to take their employer to the cleaners regardless of how slack they are, it's just that employers have been terrified of their perception of how to go about it and therefore use that as an excuse to hire "black money workers" or casuals because they haven't wrapped their heads around it. If any small employer can wrap their head around the GST and BAS statements, surely an "Unfair dismissal" of an unsatisfactory worker should be a walk in the park. And where exactly, has all this legislation led to you or your generation to not being able to be employed? I'm interested in that statement.

Di, open up your own small business in fast food or manufacturing and after 2yrs I challenge you to re-interate this errant nonsense.

We survived unfair dismissal prior Keating and we all will prosper more without it.

Everyone I know who is a good worker is paid way above award wages.
Very few small business are doing well.My prices haven't gone up in 3yrs.I've absorbed the GST due to increased competition.Small businesses have small margins unlike insurance companies or some lawyers on $20,000.oo per week.

Sorry Pericles,it is now closer to $800 billion Aust.My mistake but the other stats are correct.We are ranked about 18th in the world for GDP per capita depending upon what formula is used.

Aniko, I totally support your work for those wronged by greedy employers, at the same time, I watch with monotonous regularity the blatant profit mongering of Salter and Mordon (changed name) who seem to sniff out anything where there are big and opportunistic bucks.
We have lousy employers and lousy lawyers. Good to see u appear to be one of the goodies. Keep it up.

Di.... I notice you have a habit of defending Fiona. If its not me ur suggesting who is bugging her its Arjay.... a bit of a pattern there mate. Fiona says some rather 'out there' things at times. You better take her for a walk on the real side and introduce her to the things of life that you seem to be more familiar with than her.
Maybe then we won't find any reason to annoy her because she will be talking sense for a change :)
Fiona. *peace*