Thursday, August 30, 2007
Where is Howard's IR Policy?
Kevin Rudd has put Labor's Industrial Relations policy out in the public arena for examination and debate. It eliminates the abuses of Howard's un-Australian Workplace Agreements, affirms basic workplace rights like penalty rates and overtime, and goes a long way to restoring a fair go for workers. There will be plenty of debate about it - debate based on a full policy, open for all to see. That's a stark contrast with the Howard's deception at the last election, and his secrecy on what he will do to workers if re-elected. His close supporter and Minister Senator Nick Minchin promised many more changes in a secret address to the HR Nicholls Society – but Howard lacks the integrity and courage to tell us. Labor's full IR policy is at http://www.alp.org.au/media/0807/msdloploo280.php - let me know if you find Howard's IR policy anywhere!
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
APEC - Leadership & Climate Opportunities Lost
APEC, the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum begins on Sunday. Leaders from 21 member economies will discuss economic development, trade, regional security, job creation and climate change. It's a pity climate change runs last - it should be first. Unless we fix the environment then the rest will not happen - it's as simple as that! But to fix it requires leadership and commitment. John Howard has neither. This week he limited APEC to arriving at long-term aspirational goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions - no binding targets for global cuts in emissions, no signing of Kyoto and no commitment to the processes of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Another lost opportunity. You can access the APEC agenda at http://www.apec2007.org and the Framework Convention at http://unfccc.int/2860.php
Friday, August 24, 2007
Iraq - a Values Issue
The values debate made half an appearance this week. As usual it seemed confined to sex, religion and family. That's a pity - values are central to politics. Values are about beliefs, ideas of right and wrong and, in particular matters of morality and ethics. It is strange then that the values debate is not central to Australia's ongoing involvement in Iraq. During seven days discussing values here, well over a thousand Iraqis were killed or maimed. But that tragedy got little media attention! There can be no greater values debate in Australia than to confront the lies, deception, manipulation and secrecy that led us into Iraq and keeps us there. For an alternative source on Iraq have a look at: http://electroniciraq.net
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Time for an Independent Judicial Inquiry!
The Haneef case just gets murkier - only an independent judicial inquiry will get to the truth. All the signs of political interference in the judicial process are there. Fortunately, an independent judge - Justice Spender - has examined the Howard Government's cancellation of Haneef's visa already - and overturned the decision. But that has not deterred the Government - they continue to refuse to respond to questions, claiming secrecy and confidentiality. When they say anything at all, it is tainted and selective quotes from police interviews with Haneef - the whole transcript, now available, tells the true story. It is most instructive to compare the Government's public statements with the actual Haneef transcript. It makes riveting reading: http://gp.mercuryconnect.com.au/rb/transcript.pdf, as does the Spender decision: http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/cth/federal_ct/2007/1273.html. The Government was plainly victimising Haneef to create a 'national security' election issue.
Monday, August 20, 2007
WorkChoices hits Women
John Howard continually denies his draconian WorkChoices legislation hits the rights of workers. The truth is demonstrated in this week's disturbing report commissioned by the National Foundation for Australian Women and others - Women and WorkChoices: Impacts on the Low Pay Sector. It found that WorkChoices is hammering low paid women and their families, particularly those in the retail, hospitality, aged care and childcare sectors. It demonstrates WorkChoices has facilitated reductions in the income of study participants, ranging from the loss of over $100 a week for some, to loss of penalty rates, loadings, and allowances. The message is clear – you can't trust the Howard Government to protect your conditions and your children's conditions. See the full report: http://www.nfaw.org/media/2007/07-08-13.html#report
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Climate Change Denial Infects the Howard Government
Climate change sceptics are infecting Howard Government policy again. This time four of them have come up with the amazing conclusion that human – "anthropogenic" - activity is not responsible for global warming. In a Parliamentary report they say "...we do not believe the evidence unequivocally supports the hypothesis of anthropogenic global warming". The highly reputable Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is absolutely clear. It says that we can now have very high level of confidence that the global average net effect of human activities since 1750 has been one of warming. Check this at: http://ipcc-wg1.ucar.edu/wg1/Report/AR4WG1_Pub_SPM-v2.pdf and then read Howard's sceptics at: http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/scin/geosequestration/report/dissent.pdf
Monday, August 13, 2007
A Great Housing Initiative will Help Battlers
Dreams of home ownership are fading as ordinary families struggle with increased rental payments and mortgages that can't be afforded. Despite John Howard's claim that Australian families have never had it so good, many working families are struggling. Today Kevin Rudd made it clear that Labor will tackle the rental crisis. He committed Labor to a National Rental Affordability Scheme which will help create 50,000 new affordable rental properties across Australia. Kevin's combination of tax incentives and financial support will assist low and middle income families to meet rising cost of living pressures, and save to buy their own home. See full details: http://www.alp.org.au/media/0807/mshoulootre130.php
Friday, August 10, 2007
Interest rates, trust and working families
Yesterday I said that John Howard was running away from his election promises on interest rates. This week he seemed to try to deny saying he would keep interest rates at an 'historic low'. Again this goes to the issue of how much you can trust John Howard and his promises. Remember, Howard's promises are "core" and "non-core". And then there is his shocking statement that 'working families in Australia have never been better off'. That will sound more than a bit out of touch for the many families hit by this week's interest rate hike. Chck it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w09-cQfp60Q
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Interest rates - another broken core promise
The latest interest rate rise - to to the highest level in 10 years - further undermines Howard's economic credentials. More important - the rate hike hits almost every working family, makes home ownership more difficult and increases the enormous problems with housing affordability. Now he is trying desperately to distance himself from his interest rate promises. Howard is ready to blame anyone and anything for the latest interest rate climb - now he blames the State governments. Anything to deflect criticism! Anything but own up to his broken promises! The Reserve Bank does not share Howard's excuse. In fact the official statement from the Reserve Bank does not even mention the States. You can check this at: http://www.rba.gov.au/MediaReleases/2007/mr_07_11.html
Sunday, August 05, 2007
Thanks to all
Many, many thanks to the Centenary Branch for hosting a wonderful Trivia Night on Saturday. We all had a great time as well as benefiting from the taxing questions composed by Ross Brinkworth - fast becoming the master of the Trivia test. There is a great mood in the Centenary Branch and a growing confidence that we can really confront the Howard Government at the next election. Also thanks to those who are doing such a great job on Saturday mornings at the stalls around the electorate - we are making a good impact across the Ryan every Saturday morning. If anyone wants to assist us in making Ryan part of Rudd’s winning election night please email me at Ross.Daniels@Labor4Ryan.com. Again, sincere thanks to all.
Friday, August 03, 2007
But what would happen?
The tax-payer funded propaganda from Howard on WorkChoices is all over the media. It tells you that reforms have been made. It claims that now your basic rights are protected. It says that some of your deepest concerns about sick leave, holidays, overtime, benefits and most importantly job security are all misplaced. No need to worry any more. We all know that's not true. But in any case what would happen if Australia re-elects the Howard Government? I can tell you. Faster than the speed of light he would be back in the Parliament. And there he would remove the so called reforms and bring down even harsher conditions for Australian workers.
Thursday, August 02, 2007
WorkChoices Advertising - ANOTHER Abuse of Power
I've mentioned before the abuse, by the Howard Government, of the doctrine of the separation of powers – an important principle of Government abandoned in the Mohamed Haneef debacle. That mess highlighted the problems when the separation between the Government and the judiciary are blurred. But we have the same trouble with public-funded pro-Government propaganda about WorkChoices. Howard and his Cabinet always knew their WorkChoices laws were unfair and unjust - it's reported in the recent Howard biography. Now we have the Director of the Workplace Authority appearing over and over again telling us - absolutely wrongly - that the laws are fair. This prompts many questions but here's an important one: Why is an allegedly non-political public servant fronting taxpayer funded, politically partisan, pro-Government advertising?
Keeping up to date with Labor's campaign in the seat of Ryan, and sharing views and information about the campaign!