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The NT Intervention: a case study in dog whistle politics

I wrote earlier in the week that dog whistle politics is about saying one thing that is interpreted differently by a specific, targeted section of the community to the rest of the community. In 2007, the Howard Government was hemorrhaging support to Labor from its traditional “base” in the mortgate beltways. The Rights At Work [...]

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Was Work Choices a Roadblock to Productivity?

Was Work Choices a Roadblock to Productivity?

A critical assessment of the Work Choices laws in addressing its stated aims and objectives The 2005 legislation, Workplace Relations Amendment (Work Choices) Act represented one of the most fundamental shifts in industrial relations laws and Commonwealth-State relations since Federation. With the principle aim of Work Choices to “unleash a new burst of productivity growth”, [...]

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garnaut

We need strong action on emissions trading

The Garnaut report released earlier this year made the case for a robust emissions trading scheme. If Australia is to combat climate change, Federal Labor needs to take immediate action to reduce the amount of carbon put into the atmosphere. As activists, we have a duty to lobby senior Ministers in parliament to do everything [...]

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collective-bargaining

Australia needs strong collective bargaining

The right to collectively bargain was gutted by the Howard Government… unfortunately it looks like the Rudd Government may squib at fully restoring that right. Under the WorkChoices laws, Australian workers have no enforceable right to collectively bargain. Employers can indefinitely delay collective bargaining, denying their employees rights. Collective bargaining at a workplace level is [...]

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desal

Desalination and water security

Water security and sustainable use are crucial elements for future development. Agricultural use represents seventy per cent of water use in Victoria and Australia, with the remainder consumed by industry and urban usage. The drought and broader environmental concerns necessitate that Victoria develop alternative water sources to traditional surface reserves and rain-fall. Desalination is an [...]

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greenpaper

Labor needs a strong stand on emissions trading

Federal Labor needs to take a strong stand on emissions trading. After the Garnaut Report and the Green Paper, it appears that Federal Labor may not make the Australian emissions trading scheme as robust as it needs to be to ensure that damaging climate change is mitigated. An emissions trading scheme (ETS) is essential for [...]

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