Chappers

Stumbled over this. Makes interesting reading:

http://www.rightsatwork.com.au/thefacts/

NIGENABBY

Hi

Just had a quick look. It has some interesting information but just be aware it is clearly from a very anti government / pro union standpoint. There is nothing wrong with this point of view, however it is important to know from where the bias is coming.

Regards

jad n rich

Its actually quite a bit bigger than that unfortunately, major concern for just about anybody working in australia, its been bumped off the front page by a well timed government terror alert, but most workers will be worse off.

Vash the Stampede

That site has an awful lot of "the government wants to...", but nothing to prove its claims.

Where's the evidence? Where's the proof? Where's the documentation to substantiate any of this? Nowhere that I can see.

And hey, I can do that too: "The unions want to prohibit employers from taking on non-union workers. With the help of national lobby groups and sympathetic Liberal MPs, they aim to have this pushed through the Senate by the end of 2006."

I don't doubt that the Howard government is keen to keep the minimum wage low; I'd just prefer to see a more credible discussion of the issue from a reliable source, that's all.

As an aside, I've never belonged to a union and never seen any need to join.

Vash the Stampede

I don't know of any "well timed government terror alert" (certainly haven't seen one lately), but I do know of a perfectly legitimate story about police raids and arrests of terror suspects in Victoria and NSW.

The press received a tip-off from the police, and it's now all over the news.

Where is this "terror alert" of which you speak?

jad n rich

Vash youve been away too long if you dont know about workplace reform and Howard crying wolf, check out the newspapers daily so you dont get too out of date with whats going on here these days .

Edit just seen you think australia still has bonfire nights mate you have been away one very long time

Vash the Stampede

I check the ABC and News.com.au at least once every week, as proved by the fact that I knew about the latest raids in NSW and VIC. However, I see no "terror alert" - and if there had been one, these latest raids have just vindicated it. (Hardly a case of "crying wolf" when suspects are shooting at police, is it?)

If you could post a link to that "terror alert", I'd appreciate it. Thanks.

I am aware that workplace reform is on the cards, and with a Liberal government in power we can expect it to favour employers over employees. However, when a union body makes specific claims about the government's proposals, it should be able to back those claims up with hard evidence. Misinformation only leads to scaremongering - and the unions are very good at it.

BTW, in case you're wondering - no, I did not vote Liberal in the last election. In fact, I don't vote at all.

jad n rich

Vash, the terror warning was 2/3 days ago, howard got called wolf because it coincided with him pushing through workplace reform that hundreds of thousands of workers have been protesting against, long saga but search back on any of the papers or read the other thread on here about the terror arrests, some interesting points of view from people who live here. Oh yeah and OZ banned fireworks years ago apparently and fires you need a permit and then only to back burn. Local school could not even get a permit or insurance for the school fete

Vash the Stampede

So tell me what I was celebrating in Tasmania every year.

And for the record, I have been away for less than two years.

Good grief.

Vash the Stampede

And what was this terror warning, exactly? Could I have a link to a news story, please?

I have read about the terror arrests at news.com.au and the ABC online. I know for a fact that one of the suspects shot at police.

I'd call that legitimate grounds for arrest, wouldn't you?

I know. But it was not a nationwide prohibition; each state introduced its own ban, in its own time. For example, Western Australian banned everything (except sparklers) in 1967, while fireworks were still legal in Tasmania when I was a teenager. They are, in fact, still legal in the ACT.

(1) You've always needed a permit for fires under certain conditions. (2) They are not only issued for backburning.

I lived in the suburbs (Midvale, WA) and as recently as three years ago I burned off a huge pile of prunings from trees I'd cut back in my yard. In fact, I did this twice.

On both occasions the resulting bonfire was at least six feet tall and ten feet wide. (Plenty of room for it on my block, as I had a quarter-acre to play with.) On both occasions I called the local ranger's office to ask if it was OK. On both occasions I was given the all clear, with no documentation required.

The trick is to burn off at the right time of year (autumn or winter) and on the right sort of day (preferably damp or cloudy, with a good chance of rain.) This ensures a low fire danger, and therefore a greater chance of the thumbs up from your local authorities.

Bordy

A few days ago John Howard said they had reliable information of an imminent terrorist attack within Australia.
Many cynics said this was to Howard calling wolf to hide the fact of the workplace reforms going through.

After yesterdays arrests, as the TV reporter on Channel 10 said last night, many people have been left with egg on their face.

Vash the Stampede

Amen to that.

The Police Commissioner for NSW certainly seems to believe that something significant has occurred:

Source.

Any residual doubters are cordially invited to click here.

jonjon

has the work force reform come into force yet if so when, if not when is it due to come in

Vash the Stampede

No, not yet - and I'm not sure when it's due to come in.

I suggest you have a hunt around on the Net and see what you can find. Best place to start would be here.

BadgeIsBack

Wrong. You don't need a permit at certain times in at least one state. The only total ban is funnily enough, on Total Ban days. At least check with the local brigade. They'll give you the clear and tell you the parameters within which you can work. It's also a courtesy.