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MUCH TO BE DONE - Secretary's Soapbox February 2008

The Federal Industry Minister, Kim Carr, has raised the issue of a speedier review of the ‘car assistance scheme’ in terms of protecting the local car industry.  This announcement occurred before the recent Mitsubishi closure announcement.

These initial investigative steps have already drawn fire from the free marketeers.

Anything that touches on influencing via policy or legislation the price of goods (eg cars) or services (eg shipping costs) is frowned upon by these Howard lackeys.  They talk about the  market will find the “right price” if left alone – not necessarily a low price, whether it’s things like petrol, medical services, credit, child care or even public transport fares.

However, where are these so called free marketeers when it comes to the market being allowed to find the ‘right price’ for a worker’s labour?

Their logic suggests that the IR  legislative restrictions of the past 10 years should also be removed from how workers can collectively bargain for a fair day’s work, for a fair day’s pay.

The John Howard IR regime should be withdrawn in 2008.  No later.  ILO conventions are not a bad starting point for a fairer system.

On the issue of domestic shipping versus foreign shipping on the Australian coast (the cabotage issue) what is wrong with the MUA seeking that while in Australian waters, foreign vessels observe the ILO convention that guarantees fair pay and conditions to seafarers.

Another recent incoming federal government initiative worth acknowledging, is the announcement on the 8/1/08 that thousands of federal government contracts with the ‘not-for-profit’, volunteers and welfare sector will be rewritten to end the Howard government’s censorship of their right to speak.

For years John Howard threatened these groups (eg ACOSS (VCOSS), Council of Churches, Salvation Army, Local Councils, Child Welfare agencies, environment groups, Community Legal Services and the like) with funding cuts if they spoke out in contradiction to his government’s policies.

This issue arose from time to time during the Howard years. At the big rallies against Howard’s IR laws, 2005-2006-2007, speakers from these sectors were quite brave in stepping up to the platform. But at times some couldn’t.

The removal of the so called ‘gag’ clauses in funding/delivery contracts is a positive step forward.

Complementary to this development is the announcement that the Federal Government will also have a “War on Poverty” aimed at assisting the less well off in the Australian community.  It is hoped with the gag lifted those organisations who have the most direct contact with this part of our society can now speak out and articulate their specific needs.

The Federal Opposition has flagged interfering with the IR Transitional Bill.  They want “statutory” and relevant AWA’s between employees and employers to be retained!