Rudd’s really after the GST

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by Bronwyn Bishop

20 Apr 05:35am

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Filed under: Health Care, Julia Gillard, Kevin Rudd, Schools, Unions

41 comments

The trouble with Labor’s health plan is that it is not a plan.

Cartoon: Jon Kudelka.

The fact is that Mr Rudd’s health offer to the states is just a series of isolated funding announcements, unsubstantiated, unconnected, and incomplete.

The trade off for giving up 30% of the GST, the growth tax that is mandated to the states, is yet another series of grants dependant on the whim of the Federal government, and does not translate into sound policy to deliver better care for individuals.

What it does translate into is the thin edge of the wedge, a method for Kevin Rudd to claw back more and more of the GST, denying the states the ability to plan with a guaranteed stream of income.

We have already seen that you can’t trust Labor to spend money prudently. Giving schools new infrastructure when it is needed has merit, but squandering money and allowing big developer/building groups to benefit by ripping off huge amounts of money by way of management fees certainly is not.

One talkback caller told the listening audience that trade unions have already pocketed $80 million of the Building the Education Revolution (BER) money – which repaid the $30 million they spent getting Labor elected, and a nice bucket of money to try and keep them there. Sound plausible?

The Union attack was against WorkChoices, which Labor promised to abolish. The Union’s quid pro quo was to get access to the workplace details of employees, and a return to an award based system to the old antiquated arbitration system.

What is the result? Yes unions have returned to positions of power – board appointments and the like.

And they got access to workplaces, the details of employees, and we appear to be headed back to the antiquated arbitration process. But the so called ‘Modern Awards’ system is a contradiction in terms.

The intent was to get federal jurisdiction over all those employees not covered by WorkChoices (except Public Servants and local government). And then blind and merge all state and federal awards – some 4,000 to 5,000 of them into 122 ‘Modern Awards’.

Result, nurses in aged care will get $300 a week less under the new award; in-house call centre workers lose out, airline workers lose out, 340,000 individuals covered by the new ‘modern’ clerks’ award lose out.

The transitional ‘take home pay orders’ have very limited application and a virtual admission of this is contained in the new Fair Work Act, which provides that where an individual employee is to lose pay, it can only be done by the decrease being delivered at 20% a year for 5 years.

The Labor Party, and Ms Gillard in particular, prior to the 2007 election pretended to be concerned about individuals who would lose out under WorkChoices. In fact they promised to repel the WorkChoices legislation, they have not.

Ms Gillard has left much of it in place and her amendments will now see thousands of working Australians worse off, which she promised would never happen under a Labor Government.

Come on Julia, its time to come clean – when are you going to tell the working families that you so vehemently defended during the last campaign that you will be delivering them a pay cut?

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431Australia, you have nothing to fear but fear itself

390There's no one Thomson won't burn to save his skin

336Animal experiments won't cure me from cancer

313Thomson didn't answer the question everyone is asking

266Who murdered the Arts degree?

246A big day for Thomson, who thus far is guilty of nothing...

231Craig Thomson speaks. Meanwhile, in Australia...

231South Australia. It's the middle bottom bit.

41 comments

Show oldest | newest first

- iansand says:
  
  07:19am | 20/04/10
  
  This is what happens when you put 5 press releases into a hat and draw paragraphs out randomly.
  
  Bogeyman Bingo, anyone?
  
  Reply
matt says:

09:38am | 20/04/10

And that would be YOUR GST Bronny. Remember? The great, big, new tax?

And yes, you did win an election campaigning for the GST.

Although as one Liberal backbencher told me at the time, GST stood for “Good Ship Tampa”.
- persephone says:
  
  07:39am | 20/04/10
  
  I have to challenge the lies here about workers ‘losing out’.
  
  They can’t. It’s against the law.
  
  Yes, the alignment of various awards has meant that the base salaries for certain industries - the lowest wage you can get under them - has dropped.
  
  But in states which were already paying rates above that, the old rates still apply.
  
  I repeat: it’s against the law to pay someone less than they were receiving before the legislation was introduced.
  
  Reply
Mark says:

10:32am | 20/04/10

They can are and will.

it is the same as L.A.W tac cuts. It all gets a bit shady around the edges when you sit at the table of knowledge under the tree of knowledge across the road from the bottom of the harbour. Well you get my drift.

Go look it up. People will be worse off. And don’t spin it. people will get paid less for the same job in the future. that is a fact. that is law. Brought to you by our great big family loving peoples government.
persephone says:

11:25am | 20/04/10

Look it up, Mark, it’s Federal legislation.

If your employer suddenly starts paying you less than they did last week, and tries to justify it by saying the award has changed, you make one phone call and it’s fixed.

http://www.fairwork.gov.au/Pages/What-can-I-do-if-my-take-home-pay-is-lower-under-a-modern-award.aspx?role=employees

Of course laws can be changed, that’s a no brainer. But under the laws as they exist at present, no employee can be paid less than they have been.

BTW, the new awards started on January 1 - they’re already in operation, it’s not a case of ‘can and will’ or ‘in the future’.

If you’re receiving the same amount of money now that you did before January 1, then the new awards have not affected you in any way.

Nice attempt at a beat up, Mark, but check your facts in future (hint: Bronny is not a reliable source).
Saskia says:

02:18pm | 20/04/10

Numerous people at my company have lost out under the new awards. The negotiated contracts have workers here a better more flexible deal and choice of perques.

Most want to just deal with our HR and management but the prehistoric laws mean that Unions (who have had NOTHING) to do with any part of our business are now in the loop.

These laws are a laughing stock overseas and are an insult to employees. Trying to explain them to many of our recently migrated skilled workers is quite a challenge! They cannot comprehend the middle man scam that we have here.

The fact is many many people are much worse off and a LOT more unhappy about their loss of individual negotiation.
persephone says:

11:44am | 21/04/10

Saskia

lodge a complaint at the link provided above.

It’s against the law to pay a worker less than they were getting on January 1, full stop.
- Adam Diver says:
  
  07:43am | 20/04/10
  
  Wow Bronwyn, stay on message much? I thought it was about hospital reform (or lack of) and you ended up about industrial relations. Stick to one topic and simplfy the information for us plebians to digest the benefits/failures of the governments policy.
  
  Reply
- PeteK says:
  
  08:16am | 20/04/10
  
  I seem to remember you having a bucket load of GST money hoarded in Canberra (was it $13 Billion dollars?) that you didn’t know what to do with Bronwyn! You could have spent it on Australia’s future or infrastructure - but instead you let Rudd spend it! And now you want to whine about it? Classic!
  
  Workchoices was only code for if we can pay you any less than minimum wage we would!
  
  Reply
watty says:

09:20am | 20/04/10

Perhaps with your intimate knowledge of Rudd Government fiscal management you could inform readers about whether Rudd has invaded the “future fund” recently to finance some of his hairbrained schemes.
Having a surplus like you referred to used to be the aim of not just the Howard Governemnt but all Governments including the current Rudd mob .

Don’t hold your breath on Kevin’s mob who seem to have maxed out the credit card for a couple of generations.
Scot says:

11:32am | 20/04/10

Rudd has raided the future fund, as well as having to borrow billions from overseas, namely China. Everything that Rudd touches is like the kiss of the spider woman. It is short term, no long term planning has been involved. We are slipping backwards and NSW Labor is a first class example of this, how in 13 years they can turn our state into a third world dump. The only growth is in Canberra. if you want social support and housing move to Canberra, they have it all. They will welcome you with open arms as they cannot say no along if you need support, along with the 160,000 plus public servants Rudd has employed.
- Anti Liberal/National Man says:
  
  08:25am | 20/04/10
  
  Dear Bronwyn, All of your criticisms in the article, are absolutely true. The red/green/getup/labour coalition is without doubt the worst thing that has ever happened to Australia over the last 4 or 5 decades. See this article about their “moral degeneration”.
  
  http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=9924
  
  However the conservative coalition is only the least worst, of the 2 “major mistakes”. They have a long way to go before they will be seen as anything like a good alternative, instead of merely being the least of 2 evils.
  
  Take industrial relations, as you did in your article as an example of the red/green/getup/labour coalition’s failure as a government. It is also an example of the Conservatives, failure to provide a simple, “easy for voters to understand” policy for the next election.
  
  Here is one for you. Prior to Kevin07, even employers were saying publicly that they were happy with the EBA system. That the conservatives had won the “water front” dispute, cut back some of the union’s excesses, introduced during the Hawke/Keating years, that the system was now reasonably balanced between the competing interests of workers & employers.
  
  So, why not this extremely simple, popular, easy to understand alternative IR policy, 1, repeal “fair work”, 2, repeal “work choices”.
  
  All Australians must, if we are to save our country, at the next election number red/greens last, getup/labour second last, liberals third last, nationals fourth last.
  
  Vote #1 for real minor parties, there are plenty to choose from, or independents like Bob Katter & Nick Xenophon.
  
  http://www.democrats.org.au/
  
  http://www.australiafirstparty.com.au/cms/
  
  http://www.ldp.org.au/
  
  http://www.familyfirst.org.au/
  
  http://australianpolitics.com/parties/list.shtml
  
  Regards the former snag & swinging voter.
  
  Reply
- Lizzie says:
  
  08:41am | 20/04/10
  
  Bronwyn, great article. You have convinced me. I will now vote Labour.
  
  You pretended this was about hospitals, but it’s just another chance to talk IR.
  
  What is your plan for hospitals? You clearly don’t have one.
  
  Reply
Mark says:

10:25am | 20/04/10

May as well learn how to spell the name of the party you so recently have swung to then eh Lizzie?
watty says:

10:32am | 20/04/10

Voting LABOUR Lizzie?

There is no such political party in Australia but I suppose George Brown need all the help he can get in the British elections.

I WILL NOW vote Labour…best threat of the day.
Ryan says:

03:03am | 21/04/10

@Lizzie: thats Labor without “u” just like the Labor party where its u who is the one left out.
- persephone says:
  
  08:45am | 20/04/10
  
  Sorry, ‘Pro National/Liberal man’ aka former snag, giving one example of factional game playing within one section of the Labor party has very little to do with moral degeneration - especially as these kinds of games have been played within parties for centuries, so I’m not sure what they’ve degenerated from.
  
  Interesting that you call yourself ‘anti Liberal/National’ then recommend a voting order which would see votes going to the Libs/Nats on a 2PP basis.
  
  If you’re really such a brave and staunch opponent of ‘red/green/etc’ why are you afraid to call yourself what you really are - pro Liberal, pro National?
  
  Reply
- acker says:
  
  08:53am | 20/04/10
  
  Playing devisive city based politics Bronny, you know well that NSW, Victoria & WA state governments waste most of their time, effort and money on Sydney, Melbourne and Perth’s transport problems..even the WA nationals had to put the Libs to the sword on regional spending.
  
  Reply
- jim says:
  
  08:59am | 20/04/10
  
  Thats a nice Segway you have there Brownyn…
  
  Will Segway my vote from Liberal to Labor now.
  
  Reply
Ellis says:

10:19am | 20/04/10

Very sophisticated Jim…......
Sorry to have to correct you - a Segway is a one person electric scooter. The word of which you were incapable of thinking was segue (with an ‘e’ acute on the last ‘e’). Please feel free to join the other illiterates in the Labour Party (as if you weren’t one already….)
Henry says:

02:33pm | 20/04/10

Well you can’t spell - therefore you are a natural ALP voter.

Still fall for the old Union line too. What’s the matter too dumb or not manly enough to negotiate your own pay?

You Union hacks are pillows and sooks.
- James D says:
  
  09:28am | 20/04/10
  
  You need to find a good health plan your facelift needs redoing I noticed on Insight you looked old and worn. But you are 67 years old so thats to be expected. You were The minister in charge when the elderly were given Kerosene baths, is that your idea of a good health plan?
  
  Reply
- Alex Kelly says:
  
  09:44am | 20/04/10
  
  James D I disagree with everything this lady says but have some respect please.
  
  Reply
- Mark says:
  
  10:15am | 20/04/10
  
  Gee, James D - your all class mate “-(
  
  Reply
- Mark says:
  
  10:29am | 20/04/10
  
  All the usual’s come out to nash the teeth.
  
  What a hoot. Saint Julia is looking a little ragged around the edges.
  
  Mr Combet is looking good though.
  
  Discuss
  
  Reply
- sherekahn says:
  
  10:40am | 20/04/10
  
  Well, of course he wants the 30 % of GST because IF he gets his way with increasing Immigration it increases GST.
  HOWEVER, we are on to him, WE ARE FULL.
  
  Reply
- LA says:
  
  10:52am | 20/04/10
  
  Regardless of what I think about the points this article makes, and some of them are probably quite right, the thing that really jumps out at me is that it is pretty poorly written. Bronnie, a string of random, poorly linked sentences supporting your views which are organised into vaguely paragraph like shapes does not make a piece of prose.
  
  Perhaps you should have your own, personal education revolution before you have a crack at the next missive?
  
  Reply
- demeter says:
  
  12:10pm | 20/04/10
  
  Bronny, nice piece. So what if the union get a slice of the pie the ALP owe us anyway. As the old saying goes you dont get nothing for nothing. How the heck do you expect us to exisit?
  
  Reply
- Brian says:
  
  12:21pm | 20/04/10
  
  You cannot trust Labor with money.
  
  Reply
- Jack says:
  
  12:40pm | 20/04/10
  
  Oh, so a talkback radio caller claimed that the union ‘pocketed $80m’... and you are just repeating it, not asserting it yourself. Because then you would need some kind of evidence.
  
  I see what you did there, Bronny.
  
  Reply
- Sally says:
  
  12:38pm | 20/04/10
  
  Spot on Bronwyn.
  
  Why do all these people fall for the spin…...what happened to ETS? Dead. Home insulation ? BER ? Disasters everywhere and now reopening a dentention centre which was all too inhumane and cruel??
  
  Health reform done in a week ? this will be good??
  
  I think having KRudd in government is inhumane and cruel…...to us. He is making Gough Whitlam look like a sound economic manager.
  
  Reply
- Jack says:
  
  12:45pm | 20/04/10
  
  Speaking of health: I was watching the news and saw all that criticism of Tony Abbott and his fitness regime.
  
  Then Wayne complains about not enough time surfing .......mate, go surfing and we will save alot of money.
  
  Then Nicola complaiins about not enough time with daughter…....seriously take some time and we may save our health system from a bureaucratic apocolypse.
  
  Then I see Julia faint on weekend…........might be time to follow Tony’s lead to improve your health, especially when there is so much talk about weight and obesity.
  
  Reply
- Thumper says:
  
  01:14pm | 20/04/10
  
  Where is your proof Old Bron/ that the unions pocketed any money? A talk back radio caller said “oh well it must be truth why bother checking”
  Your big problem is that people in the union can nominate to pay sums of money to donate to Labors cause. Average Aussies, and its all voluntary and millions give every week and none give to you Liberals. You fat cats can get your donations from Big Business!! Oh I forgot they don’t like you either since you want to hit them with another BIGGG Tax
  
  Reply
- Seano says:
  
  02:22pm | 20/04/10
  
  Not like you to run a fear campaign Bronwyn…
  
  Reply
- Dingo says:
  
  02:38pm | 20/04/10
  
  Of course they want the GST. Rudd had been counting on all that money from the ETS to pay for all their vote buying programs, now they need a new source of funds.
  
  I like Brumby’s idea to have the money pooled and spent directly on Health Care. If Rudd was honestly trying to improve Health Care he would have no objection.
  
  There’s no way the States should give 30% of the GST to general revenue. Just look at the $80 million skimmed off the BER by various Unions and ALP affiliates to pay for false and deceitful advertising in the next election.
  
  Reply
- Jack from Perth says:
  
  02:55pm | 20/04/10
  
  Bronny, Tony put it perfectly when he made you shadow minister of aging: “She’s one of them.”
  
  Reply
Kate says:

07:21pm | 20/04/10

haha that is good…...but you are from Perth so you lose….......BATTLER.
- Lorraine says:
  
  04:52pm | 20/04/10
  
  The GST was introduced with the promise that all monies collected with this form of tax would be paid to the States….... why does Krudd want to change this?
  It was also said that to change this agreement there would have to be full agreement of both houses of Parliament and all States.
  This is a “wool over the eyes” trick.
  Let’s have the full explanation of this health plan with all the facts, figures and future planning before it is agreed to.
  Bravo John Brumby. I wish my Premier had as much guts!
  What will the GST be used for next?
  
  Reply
- Shane From Melbourne says:
  
  06:50pm | 20/04/10
  
  I imagine that the Liberals are annoyed that they didn’t figure out how to get a slice of the GST pie when they were in power. But Kevin Rudd is a grifter and the state premiers are the marks…..
  
  Reply
- Dave in Perth says:
  
  12:50am | 21/04/10
  
  One talkback caller told the listening audience that (insert rediculous lie here). Sound plausible?
  
  This sort of drivel is a new low. Even for the Liberal Party. You sound more like Glen Beck than a Federal MP. Is Barnaby writing your stuff now?
  
  Reply
- Chris says:
  
  04:56pm | 21/04/10
  
  An unnamed person calling a talkback radio station threw out a conspiracy theory about the Commu-I mean Unions stealing money, therefore it is true. Kill Labor.
  
  Well done Ms. Bishop, you are insane.
  
  Reply

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matt says:

persephone says:

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Anti Liberal/National Man says:

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