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The Forum > Article Comments > WorkChoices is valid - now we can get back to work > Comments

WorkChoices is valid - now we can get back to work : Comments

By Mirko Bagaric, published 16/11/2006

Labor and the unions overcooked their attacks on the laws.

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Mirko gained his education at a different time when government thought it had a social responsibilty to educate and train young Australians.

Since 1992 the traditional avenues of training for apprentices and newly minted graduates has been closed as government departments and large organisations trimmed their staff to contain costs. This is the real source of the skills shortage in Australia - as large employers no longer see it as their responsibility to provide young people with technical or skilled work experience opportunities. The growth in employment in this country has been in micro businesses that barely make a return for their owner and definitely do not have enough revenue / turnover to take on an apprentice / graduate trainee unless its a family member.

Work choices will lead to a lower fertility rate in Australia as women decide they can't afford to start a family with the erosion of stable employment opportunities.

Many unskilled jobs demand the worker have an ABN - so you wonder who pays the income tax, public liability insurance as well as superannuation and sick leave etc. A new employee asking these questions will be branded a trouble maker and not get any rosters.
Posted by billie, Thursday, 16 November 2006 8:57:10 AM
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“Their focus will be sharpened by next year’s Federal election which will largely turn on the merits of the most fundamental changes to Australia’s industrial relations system for over a century”, asserts Bagaric.

But, the next election, like all others, will ‘turn on the merits’ of the economy and what goes into voters’ wallets. There will be some union diehards who will see IR as the big thing, but they would not vote for the Coalition anyway. There are also a great many workers who say that they are OK with the new IR laws, and are better off than they were before. So, whatever way they usually vote, IR changes will not affect their votes.

As Bargaric says later on in his article, ‘sometimes six months is a long time’, and it will be business as usual at the 2007 election with whoever offers the best bribes getting the guernsey. The incumbents have a good economic record, and the Opposition – especially Beazley and Rudd – don’t seem to have any contact with reality. It just might be that people want a change, but will they vote for a three time loser with nothing to offer?

Sure, Howard has gone stale, resting on his fast withering laurels, but he has to let someone else have a go very soon; but Beazley! Surely not
Posted by Leigh, Thursday, 16 November 2006 9:29:42 AM
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Fair enough there have been no mass sackings under workchoices - though I was under the impression that these laws were designed for more of a cumulative effect by reducing the powers of collective bargaining.
If this is the case, the true effects wouldn't be known until the laws are well and truly entrenched.
Posted by TurnRightThenLeft, Thursday, 16 November 2006 9:36:42 AM
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Mirko,
If you think the fight is over think again my friend wait til the 30th of this month, and see how many ordinary people march in protest against these laws, an indication of the result of the next election, we are far from beaten.
Posted by SHONGA, Thursday, 16 November 2006 11:07:01 PM
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Kim Beazley has been quoted about WorkChoices as follows:

"Nothing with this Bill will happen immediately - it's going to happen in stages...it's like an infestation of termites, it just gradually undermines."

Let's not keep up the pretence that the labor movement at large have been saying the sky will fall in, that is a Howard (or Textor?)line used to try and discredit opposition to WorkChoices.

There was never any doubt about the case, after all Howard appointed the majority of the High Court.

Unions have never been hanging out for a High Court decision the main game has always been political and will continue to be.

By the way, please don't cherry pick stats to suit your argument, it is annoying. If you wanted to compare the US and France you may also want to consider the various elements of the social wage in both countries. I would hazard a guess and say you'd be better off on the dole in France than in a low wage job in the US.
Posted by westernred, Friday, 17 November 2006 3:25:24 PM
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The trouble for this "grab for power" is a short term ego trip. It's about the rodent doing to ordinary working people what his dream has been to do to us for at least the past 25 years.

Problem being similar to Keating winning the 1993 election, a huge defeat in 1996. Howard has pushed politics in this country so far to the ultra right, that when the ball bounces it is possible Australia will go ultra left, I for one would not like to see that.

That situation would ceate as much uncertainty as the present situation is creating for workers, only the boot would be on the employer's foot. Australia has always been middle of the road conservative with both left and right extreme groups influencing decisions.

With the recent revelations that the NSW Branch is being taken over by the religous ultra right, the Liberal Party is in real danger of self inplosion, I would not like to see this happen either. Democracy is built on Government v Opposition both strong forces.
Posted by SHONGA, Friday, 17 November 2006 5:16:08 PM
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