Briefly Examinator, you mentioned "mum and dad corner stores": Are you aware that current IR laws apply even to those, forcing the definitions of "employer" and "employee" and the restrictions that come with it even within the family-business?

Yuyutsu,

Did you read all of my post.
The reason mum and dad stores disappearing is largely because it can't compete with the "advantages?" (flexibility in their business model) available to the big boys.

As I have said many times before the curse of our times is a system that favours disproportional power for the big corporation V humans (employees and non employees).

Trying to equate the demise of M&D enterprises with the labour laws is both short sighted and defies history.

The notion that business has a conscience and doesn't need control is a bit like a junky in a drug warehouse.
Junkies and business always want more and are less and less concerned about the consequences.

Some groups within both parties tend to be mouthpieces for the above business thinking.

What is often neglected is a balance between the two extremes.

Sorry Examinator, I did read your whole post, but didn't have much to say about it, except for that bit about M&D that struck a chord with previous discussion on this topic. Of course, had I looked more carefully I could have seen that this was your first post here and that you did not participate in that discussion to begin with. Sorry for that!

You referred to business as "a junky in a drug warehouse". I guess that renders us, their consumers, as drug-traffickers - what an unpleasant truth!

Yes, Greed is a frustrating problem, whether it occurs in business-owners, customers, employers or employees. I wish I could wave a magic wand to make it disappear. Nevertheless, although greed is bad, violence/coercion is even worse, a 100 times more, so I would never support using the force of the law to curb greed, as much as I hate it (and yes, I would never support using the force of the law to forcibly separate a junky from his drug, as much disgusting this practice is, so long as no others are hurt. I would simply allow him to die in his vomit if that's what he chooses). The best way to fight greed is for each one to struggle internally with their own demon.

Coming back to M&D enterprises, some still exist despite supermarket-chains and I hope they can continue. My point was that at least under WorkChoices, M&Ds were exempted from IR laws, while now they are not. I guess that supermarket-chains must now be really thankful to Labor for that.

Yuyutsu, I think you have made a very valid point here, in that M&D enterprises can't opporate as they used to without fear of retribution down the track.

Now there were many cases whereby young adult family members would work in the family business and, in return for some of thier efforts, they would be provided with board and lodging.

This is now at risk!

I will be the imigants that have established businesses here don't follow that rule. After all, they know when the going gets tough, they must all chip in to survive.

Of cause much of this stems from our kids being tought 'thier rights' from schools etc.

Even ones parenting duties are scrutinised by outsiders, some of whom don't even have kids of thier won.

There are times when outsiders should simply stay out of other peoples business, and this is one of those situations.

Esspecially when two grown adults (employer & employee) are in agreence with one and other.