Otokonoko, I appreciate your understanding and I wholey agree with what you say. Cost of almost everything has gone up, even 'tolls', which effects many on thier daily travels to and from work. But, grocorries have actually fallen, so to have white goods.

Now you think it's tough for the average punter. Business pay huge increases in just about everything and, most are producing smaller profits at present.

I believe China recognises our problems moving forward and, they are trying to buy up our prime farming land in Tasmania.

Our food producers have been hit hard by changes to IR laws, not just the $26 a week pay rise. They are becomming anti competetive as we speak. Chinas solution, buy the land and grow your own. This is happening righ under our noses and we do nothing.

Your comment>>I understand your point, rehctub: that increases in pays for low income earners may make jobs difficult to sustain. What's the solution, though?

Cut thier un-neccesserry spending. They all struggle yet many have a plasma and a moble.

Stop wasting billions (governments) on failed projects.

Redirect the billions wasted on detainees.

Send food to starving nations, not dollars.

Stop wefare being spent on gambling, grog and cigs.

Stop rewarding non-working people for simply having kids. Employed people pay huge child care fees, while non-workers pay stuff all.

Remove the barriers between workers and employees. Many workers want to work for X. Many employers are happy to pay X + a bonus. The gov and the unions prevent that. 1970's IR laws, welcome back.

There's a start.

Awwww poor rehtclub.
Anyone would think that someone put a gun in his mouth and forced him to be a small business proprietor. If you dont like it and think the minimum wage slaves are so much better off why dont you sell up and get one of those jobs for yourself. Change places with one of your workers if they are so wonderfully happy and you are so miserable. Im sure they would jump at the chance to be your boss for a change.
If your business cant afford to pay the going rate then perhaps youre not the great businessman you think you are.

The real problem is that "free trade" is really just "exploit Chinese workers so we can buy cheap tvs" but we fell for it. How can we ever compete with their conditions of slavery and low wages unless we acquiesce to the likes of retclub and join our Chinese comrades in their low paid serfdom. Or we fight to get proper pay and conditions (and an end to the cheap tvs) for chinese and other developing world workers the same as we did for ourselves once upon a time.
Then Australian companies may be able to compete and provide the work (and wages) people need to survive (and pay rehtclubs prices).

It is your thread rechtub and it was about a wage rise for low income earners.
Now it forgets the wealth you have told us you have made in your working life.
It however targets anything from costs of boat people tax avoiders and, seemingly poor people.
Butch you just have to live with the understanding few, very few share your opinions.
Rather than throwing words like those who hate me around you should consider this.
Are your rights to think as you wish any stronger than those who oppose yours?

"Cut thier un-neccesserry spending. They all struggle yet many have a plasma and a moble."

You speak about low income earners as though they are something you stepped in walking down the street.

I really don't think you realise how you sound sometimes rehctub.

Still we can always let 'them' eat cake. Hang on cake is a luxury - what about dried bread and water, that's what the poorly paid in China are probably eating so others can enjoy cheap goods.

pelican,

On the contrary, rehctub sees himself as a member of the squirarchy (new money) - he can't possibly be expected to empathise with the proletariat and their diabolical demands for his largesse.

Well you can all throw mud at me if you like, but it doesn't stick.

BTW, I have never underpaid my workers, but, if my wage bill goes up and not my profits, I will cut hours/jobs. It's called, running a business.

Now I will work for someone else in the not to distant future, but at least I will know first hand just how tough the boss is doing it if it's a smaller shop in a centre.

Also, the majority of small businesses (retail) make les today than they did ten years ago, and that's a fact.

Now it's all well and good to suggest one 'gets out'. Boy, if it were only that simple, many would.

Now I am simply trying to warn you all that unless we address these issues, my kids, your kids, everyones kids will suffer big time.

Did you know that recent job applications, mainly clerical, have exceeded 400 applicants. That's 400+ people that are either unemployed at present or unstable or unhappy or unsecure in thier present job.

Now that's scary, considering we apparently only have 5% unemployment. Don't you think?

Many suggest we have dodged a bullet (recession) I say that perhaps it hasn't been fired yet!

I suggest you lot brace yourselves for the recession we have not yet had, as I think it is comming and we will only have our selves and our wastefull governments to blame.