Even though the Howard Govt has given us 11 yrs of realitive economic growth and prosperity,there have been serious down sides of increased competition that has given our community more job insecurity and longer hours of work.

We are the only country in the developed world that has a non protectionest policy for both manufacturing and primary products.China has a tarrif of 110% on all value added products that enter it's shores,while we only have tarrifs of 5% plus GST of 10%.Where is the level playing field?No polly can answer this question.Which country is fostering the growth of creative industry?It certainly is not the land of OZ.

In my industry prices have not risen for 7 yrs,even though costs have escalated.With the destruction of much of our industries there are fewer options for businesses to satisfy market demands since most of our consumerables are now imported.

Can we become a sustainable land flogging of our resources and not having a diversity of industry to fall back on?Our present Govt just ignores the potential of small business and the long hours many have to work just to survive.

Perhaps this is why many just want to give Labor a go in the hope that job pressures will diminish and quality of life will again return.

"Perhaps this is why many just want to give Labor a go in the hope that job pressures will diminish and quality of life will again return."

Maybe Arjay; but the logic of that doesnt fit the desired outcome. For the desired outcome to occur, Labor would have to change the whole world. And we all know the chances of that.

So, the solution to any perceived problems is simply to keep up with the times, diversify more, use the grey matter more, and reduce 1st world reliance on primary product and get it imported. Industry as we have known it, is also rapidly aging. Time for the new and appropriate.

Labors agrarian, feral, greenhouse nihilism will only affect us, not the world. Electing the Kyoto-oligists will defeat economies here, and roll back windows of oppurtunity.

Our main problem with regard to the coming election, is the 5th collumn undercurrent of feel-good Laborism.

Arjay
Roy Morgan Research suggests that Australians’ sense of job security is almost at its strongest in 30 years.
http://www.roymorgan.com/news/polls/2005/3942/

They are also more confident in their job security than people in most other countries:
http://www.roymorgan.com/news/polls/2006/4120/

ABS data suggest that average hours worked, have been trending down for more than a decade.
http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/6291.0.55.003Feb%202007?OpenDocument

The evidence doesn’t support your claims about globalisation

Rhian,most of the long term unemployed have been moved to Disabled pensions.The unemployed have been redefined by our Govts.We cannot compare this era to that of 40 yrs ago You are considered to be employed even if you have worked just a few hrs a week.Our Govts are trying to provide employment through high taxes and the so called resultant increased Govt services.This is not sustainable economics.With no manufacturing there is little R&D and most of the successful ones just move off shore.I think that Aust going it alone with the reduction of tarrifs in both rural and manufacturing is serious folly.Ireland who have almost no resources lowered taxes on business and invested in education.

We are not the smart country.There are a million Aussies working overseas because both wages and the tax regemes are far better than here.

Arjay

You’re right that the govt defines those working only a few hours as employed, but this was always the case.

I agree that some people have shifted from being counted as unemployed to being counted as disabled, but the effect is relatively minor. Employment as a percentage of the total adult population is at an all-time high – if the unemployed were simply being redefined as disabled, then this wouldn’t be the case.

We’re not “going it alone” with our tariff reductions – most developed countries have manufacturing tariffs similar to ours. The average tariff on manufactured goods worldwide is about 5%, which is the same as our standard tariff. Developing countries tend to have higher manufacturing tariffs, and rich ones – to their shame – often have relatively high agricultural tariffs and other trade barriers, but in manufacturing we’re in the middle of the pack (the standard manufacturing tariff is 5% in the EU, USA and Japan, while Hong Kong and Singapore have zero tariffs). China’s tariffs (and non-tariff barriers) on some individual items are very high, and its average is higher than developed countries, but its tariffs have fallen rapidly since it joined the WTO and the gap now is not huge – a quick Google suggests its average manufacturing tariff is about 11-13%.

And even if the rest of the world had much higher tariffs, that would be no reason to raise ours. It’s a myth to assume that the only point of cutting our tariffs is a tit-for-tat exercise to get access to other countries’ markets. We gain when we cut tariffs unilaterally, through cheaper goods and services and increased competition.

We definatley need to get rid of this Government.Over the past eleven years the Rich have got Richer and the poor are as bad off as third world countries.It is rediculous Australia imports fruit, and our growers has to plough his crops back in.This Government doesn't care about the people in the street,Were we asked if we wanted to go to war with Iraq? being on a Disabilty pension doesn't make one a bludger or non worker,the jobs are just not out there! and it is not that we paraphlegics don't want to work, but who is going to employ someone in a wheelchair at 60 years of age? I worked most of my life and payed taxes,But the so called health system is out of bounds to the common person.This Government has done nothing for the little people.All it is interested in doing is selling off to foreign investors as much of Australia as it can.