Billie, it's true that trade competition can cause some jobs to disappear in the short run, but more (and usually better) jobs are created in the long run.

In Australia we have reduced protectionism sharply over the past 15-20 years (pockets of banana protectionsim notwithstanding). Currently we also have the lowest unemployment rate since the 1970s (including a sharp decline in long-term unemployment), and the highest ever proportion of the adult population in work. Real wages are rising.

Workers are better off in a competitive and dynamic economy than a protected and static one, and most smart union leaders understand this.

Billie, why are you importing your spelling from other cultures then? 'Antediluvian' is way better than 'antedeluvian' ;-)

Rhian glad you point out that Australia enjoys the lowest unemployment rate for 30 years. Just a minor detail. . . . .

30 years ago the Australian Bureau of Statistics calculated the unemployment rate by counting the number of people who received unemployment benefits. If you wanted a job you walked around all the factories in the area until you had a job. It took one Friday morning to get 3 job offers

Nowadays, the Australian Bureau of Statistics conducts a survey and an individual is considered to be employed if the person has 1 hour of paid or unpaid work in the survey period and is not studying.

So we aren't comparing apples with apples. And I find it odious that people say that there is low unemployment because I have experienced both times and trust me, I work harder and more persistently to find a job that just isn't there. More insidiously, while people believe these specious unemployment statistics they are blinded to the fact that Australian society is sliding down a slippery slope to large gaps between the haves and the seriously downtrodden and the whole of society will suffer as a result.

Pedant I knew someone out there had a spell checker.

Mirko sorry I have hijacked your forum.

Rhian and Pedant,

or should I just address this to one of you?

What a stupid political lot of bull you posted.

You idiot. You say> We are loosing jobs to gain better jobs.

More people work part time and there are thousands doing center link and other courses that they have no intention of following through.

Thats how your team play it.
But you know that already dont you.
This is so you can say> there are less unemployed.

We have no skillied labour because there has been no aprentices taken on because of you lot.

Billie posted what we all thought was a fair go tell it like it is comment. You cant say anything other than something about his spelling which by the way shames you not Billie.

Our forgeign debt is a discrace. Our companies have all but left Australia.

Even our parks and world hertigae properties are under hocked.

Apart from cole if you look at Australia you wont see much else being exported.
Oh unless you count the millions of poor suffering animals that Vaile Howard Downer through the National Party and The government export along with our jobs ALIVE, So desperate are they to say they export SOMETING.

Dont tell me let me guess your part of the new family first christian group who represent the church.

Yeh the good Christians who could not care less about animal cruelty and sending our kids jobs overeas.

Tell you something >

Billie looks good to us.!

Agree Billie.How would Mirko feel if we brought graduates from India to work for 25% of his salary?He'd be singing,"Yes we have no bananas" in a shrill tone.

We have no responsibility to third world countries unless they,like China,do something about their population growth.The bleeding hearts are too comfortable in their secure unionised Govt jobs and pontificate about injustices that they are partially responsible for.

Well intentioned people went third world countries giving them better food technology and drugs to fight disease,but no mention was made of contraception.

It does make you wonder about the agenda of do gooders,who push this illogical barrow shame,at the expense of ordinary Australians who are just surviving themselves.

If the individuals in other nations can produce similar bananas at a lower cost with various diseases, then how important is it for us to protect framers from this disease? I think there is another, more potent disease in this country. It's ugly name is, inefficency.