Dear SteeleRedux,

Here's a link that may be of interest to you:

http://newmatilda.com/2014/02/03/one-firms-subsidy-anothers-burden

'afternoon all...

What we need in matters of Industrial Relations, Messrs Abbott, Shorten and Howes, is someone who will ensure only the truth will be spoken, no more political manoeuvring, and no more posturing for individual party benefit or the electorate !

There's too much at stake, for us all; the workers, management, industry, in fact the entire country ! I think it's now time for both government and the unions to assume a more bi-patrician approach, in all matters involving Industrial Relations. Australia cannot continue to have it's manufacturing base abraded any further. The other day, I went into a large department store for a business shirt. Sure there were many styles from which to choose, however none were made in Oz. Why so ?

Look at the motor vehicle industry ? GM Holden has been here since 1948, an absolute Aussie icon. Yet the company is now literally cleaning out it's locker. With Toyota already closely examining it's options, whether to stay or go ?

I know nothing of IR. But surely, the only sustainable panacea to this industrial impasse, is to broker a bi-partisan remedy. Maybe then, we might just manage to salvage some remanence of our once revered manufacturing reputation ?

Dear o sung wu,

I think it is a given that the vast majority of politicians do lie, it seems to come with party politicians. The fact that many people respected the independents in the last parliament I feel came from the fact that they were not forced to toe any party line and thus were able to be far more forthcoming.

The liar jibe was levelled at Gillard for the 'No Carbon Tax' promise and at Howard for the No GST promise. Gillard however faced a hung parliament and Howard put an election between his promise and the implementation. Abbott's problem is that his untruthfulness is immediate. Instead of articulating his vision or his reasoning, it seems every time he opens his mouth it is to take a pot shot; and telling a fib, in his world at least, is a small price to pay to land a blow.

Dear Belly,

From what I have read of Howes' message I think he is heading in the right direction but I think Abbott will struggle to move from the belligerent stance he seem wedded to, but who knows.

Dear foxy,

Thanks for the links especially the New Matilda one. I remember a billboard ad on the highway near us was some motor vehicle leasing firm possibly having to reduce its workforce because of the then government's aggressive moves to clean up the rorting going on in the sector. This is a sector mind you that is not manufacturing anything, just parasites. They wanted that rorting to continue and Abbott has acquiesced basically supporting them in the order of hundreds of millions of dollars in foregone taxes.

In an SPC media release sent to all Coalition colleagues by Ms Stone yesterday, the company said the excessive redundancy payments had been trimmed back to 52 weeks in 2012. However, the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union has confirmed that almost all of the plant's more than 400 or so employees were employed under a previous enterprise agreement that provided for redundancy of four weeks' pay for every year of service, up to a maximum of 104 weeks.

So it looks like Ms Stone owes Abbott an apology.

THE LIBERAL GOVT..is guilty of treason..[FULLSTOP]

whEN JOE..'gave'..9 billion in borrowed cash..to the fed
it was the final straw of treason..[the bankers stole our treasure
[took away legal tender..ie coin..see..the federal constitution..115]

http://whatreallyhappened.com/WRHARTICLES/11thmarble.php

ignorance of the law is no excuse
http://whatreallyhappened.com/WRHARTICLES/wildbankers.php

http://whatreallyhappened.com/WRHARTICLES/slavetobanks.php

http://whatreallyhappened.com/WRHARTICLES/MBS4dummies.php

http://whatreallyhappened.com/WRHARTICLES/bankersinonechunk.php

It seems to be a fashion to abuse Abbott at every opportunity, and the
latest liar accusations seem to be true to form.
Accusations are made very quickly before either correction or
affirmation of correctness can be made.
Just throw mud quick !

I have heard comment that what Abbott said was correct, and
that the company statement was misleading.

Obviously I have no direct knowledge of SPC's union agreement but
I notice two things;
1. The accusations of lying have stopped.
2. No apologies have appeared.

I have noticed that this is a patten which the Labour/Green/Lefties
should have a think about as it detracts from everything else they say.