Wages are very much controlled in Australia
Paul1405,
Yes but quite unfairly. Those who do the least get the most i.e. bureaucrats whereas those who actually work i.e. factory workers etc. get sfa. They don't get 1 hour smoko with coffee & biscuits supplied by the taxpayer. Can do their internet business at taxpayers expense. Get taxpayer topped up Super. The list is too long for here.
I work under a manager who costs the taxpayer at least half a million a year & that's a conservative figure yet he produces nothing but stuff-ups & mismanages everything except his own benefits. when someone else tries to get a little entitlement he pulls out every legislation to stop it. Wage control is ok but in Australia it is abused savagely.

Indi, I would not disagree with what you say about your particular case. I too have had long experience with Australian industry, both private and public and the 'managerial class' I have to say the number of really good managers I've come across, who were worth their salt, I could count on the one hand. There have been numerous studies to my knowledge which have shown Australian workers to be some of the best in the world, when it comes to skills and ability, but the same studies have found many of our managers to be sadly lacking.
Indi I have never told you this before, but you remind me of my old man, your national service idea is not new, I used to hear it from him 40 years ago, he used to call it 'The Land Army'. The difference is he was dyed in the wool old time labor, a 'Lang man' but very conservative.