The reality of responsible Govt has yet to truely dawn on the Rudd Govt.Unfair dismissal for small businesses of less than 100 employees was going to instigated again by Labor with a probationary period of 12mths before an employee could make a claim.They under estimated the impact this would have on small businesses.If unfair dismissal comes back even in their proposed neutered form,unemployment will again rise.

Under the old system there were many employees making a living out of ambit claims and $20,000.00 can send many a small business broke these days.In a globalised world,the margins are not there anymore to
carry a single worker.Small business is constantly seeking ways of cutting staff to ensure its survival.

The Howard Govt failed small business in the area of preditory pricing and has let big business in household consumerables dominate the market to the detriment of the consumer.

Will the Rudd Govt be fast learners and curtail the influence of the likes of Caltex,Woollies,Coles etc or just be seduced by their donations?Will they also have the sense to totally eliminate unfair dismissal for all workers and replace it with a system that doesn't involve lawyers servicing their own bottom lines?

I hope Labor has cleaned the wax from its collective ears and is listening keenly to the needs of the community.

Except Arjay, most small businesses aren't particularly concerned about them:
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22357162-17164,00.html

Unfair dismissal laws were changed in '93 to put the onus of proof on the employee. So those dismissed on reasonable grounds have little incentive to protest.
Now we have a situation where employees who are dismissed on unreasonable grounds have to mount costly court cases that potentially end up costing businesses a lot more than having to deal with the Industrial Court:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/modest-payout-for-victim-of-labour-law/2007/11/27/1196036893190.html

Arjay at least research your subject, Labor proposed laws have no legal costs.
In fact the proposal is balanced and true reform , unlike workchoices.
Truth is the old system was miss used, yes true, some miss used it to gain walk away money.
The new one is like most of Labors policy's will be in this area balanced.
The lies fear and yes hate of Conservatives campaign failed even to keep their own sheep in the voting paddock, face it!
And Rudd's policy will not please unions, it has been said Kev wants to control us old John wanted to kill us.
About right too but wait until it happens tell me in 2 years Rudd has got it wrong.
Rudd in fact will have his brand on Howard's battlers by the time the next election comes around , my regards and thanks to those former Liberal voters, been a great few weeks.

BELLY... I have to strongly agree that resolution of unfair dismissal issues should unquestionably be NO COST.. all it does otherwise is make a lot of lawyers rich and happy....and I've seen 'rich happy lawyers' at the terrorism trial in Melb and they make me sick.. specially when they are getting 'rich and happy' at MY taxpayer expense.