So the ability for Union reps to get into state schools depends on them being invited in by the school principal- who, in most cases is going to be a paid up member of one of the most militant unions, the Teachers Federation. That should ensure access. There should be no place in education for propaganda!

Picking a fight with the Labor's ugly step sister

Julia Gillard feigns a fight with Trade Unions at their annual conference but gives her blessing to the indoctrination of school students 14 years and up. Funny thing –those who are 17 years now will be voters in the next Federal and State elections and the Labor Party affiliated unions will be in the school with the imprimatur of officialdom drumming up support for themselves and Labor candidates.

To use a Ruddism ‘fair shake of the sauce bottle’ –I think the Liberals need equal access to at least balance the message.

Real help for the unemployed

Now here’s a good idea-one to help people made redundant. You know individuals whose lives have been devastated by unemployment with mortgages to pay and kids to feed.
The current policy developed in prosperous times, is to assist employers with the wages for a new employee with a subsidy for six months. But it is not available for contractors and as the new industrial laws kick in, small businesses once again are scared of the unfair dismissal laws and the prospect of go away money.

They therefore decline to take up the subsidy and take on a new employee.
How about letting the subsidy apply to contractors who could then at least get back to work, keep their skills up to date and enhance their CV for future opportunities.
The Government had a lot to say about working families in opposition- How about a policy change and create a few.

Don’t miss the fine print

Hey, would you believe it, the Governments much trumpeted paid maternity leave will be financed by wait for it, mothers themselves.
How can this be so?

Well, the budget papers say paid maternity (paternal) leave will be available only if you don’t take the baby bonus (now means tested and taxed), and will cost the Government $731 million over 5 years.
However what you pick up on the swings you will loose on the roundabouts. The Family Tax Benefit Part A will have its indexation lowered which means the Government pays out $1 Billion less over four years and mothers therefore will receive a reduced benefit compared to what they would have got and thus pay for their own maternity leave.

Clever isn’t it. The Government in the Budget papers calls it “rebalancing of the family payment system”. You can say that again. It always pays to read the fine print before you get too carried away with Rudd largess.

Will they survive?

Censorship is a curious thing. We can self sensor-that is we don’t speak out when perhaps we could. The Government censors as it should, against child pornography and advertising tobacco. It also censors speaking out against people on the basis of race or sexuality with Racial Vilification and other laws and these can result in criminal charges.
Now, while we may enjoy the cleverness of the chaser team, lampooning sick and dying children is not on. Me thinks the ABC should have had a closer look at self-censoring and told the Chasers War On Everything that there are ethical standards to be met and they just failed miserably.

A good question to ask

Latham’s outburst against Australian defence personnel was bitter and nasty. And to think this man was putting his hand up to be PM. Would Latham pass the necessary tests, both psychological and physical to be accepted into the Australian Defence Force? A good question!

This is a man who allegedly broke the arm of a taxi driver and smashed a journalist’s camera- who’s the meathead?
It makes you wonder…

In my time as Minister for Defence Industry, Science and Personnel, I had the good fortune to meet many serving men and women. I can say these people are smart, switched on and represent Australia with pride and commitment and we in turn should be very proud of them.

Mark Latham get over your defeat and move on!

10 comments

Show oldest | newest first

    • John says:

      11:20am | 16/06/09

      “Labor’s ugly step sister”?

      Low.

    • Chris says:

      11:54am | 16/06/09

      Questioning whether Mark Latham would pass the necessary tests to be accepted into the ADF, especially the physical test, was rather a low blow. You say he “allegedly” broke a taxi driver’s arm and smashed a journalist’s camera, yet while you’ve highlighted it was an allegation, it didn’t stop you from jumping on the media beat-up against him by branding him guilty and labeling him a meat head.

      For a politician who recorded a bit of a swing against them in the 2007 election to the party Latham was affiliated with, I can feel the bias and undertones oozing from your article, but I suppose being shoved to the back bench from a portfolio of any significance AND being in opposition could make anybody “bitter and nasty”.

    • darren says:

      12:05pm | 16/06/09

      In the late 1960s as a 9 year old I had the misfortune to have our then Liberal State MP arrive one day and give us a lecture on the dangers of communism - what is the difference between that and having Unions NSW?

    • Grant says:

      12:34pm | 16/06/09

      You clearly missed the point of the chasers skit if you think they were lampooning sick and dying children.

    • John says:

      01:07pm | 16/06/09

      Darren, in my humble view there is a great difference. I don’t know of many politicians (both sides) that physically threaten anyone that disagrees with them, or doesn’t ‘tow the line’.

      I’m not aware of politicians using stand-over tactics, thuggery and breaking the law to suit thier agendas.

      Unioins do not encourage initiative or success.

      Lastly, unions represent a minority group in the Australian community (with declining membership), yet they insist on having a significant influence on what goes on in the country.

    • Ross says:

      01:19pm | 16/06/09

      <em>Mark Latham get over your defeat and move on!<em>

      How about you take your own advice?

      You might become a political party again.

    • Paul says:

      02:16pm | 16/06/09

      Bronwyn,

      Quoting you”

      I think the Liberals need equal access to at least balance the message. “


      What would you say?

    • iansand says:

      04:51pm | 16/06/09

      I wonder how much of Mr Rudd’s electoral success can be attributed to his ability to appear (I have no illusions about the reality of someone who has clawed their way up through ALP intra-party politics) to sail serenely above the politics of nastiness?  This sort of article seems so old school.

      The article demonstrates why Ms Bishop is a good local member.  That’s all there is.  There isn’t any more.

    • Nick says:

      04:32am | 20/06/09

      Very low.

      What a lot of contradictory nonsense…

      “There should be no place in education for propaganda!”

      “I think the Liberals need equal access to at least balance the message.”

    • Nigel says:

      10:25pm | 06/07/09

      “There should be no place in education for propaganda!”

      Similarly, there should be no place in Punch for propaganda, especially when it is so badly written.

 

Facebook Recommendations

Read all about it

Punch live

Up to the minute Twitter chatter

ToryShepherd

Ugh. RT @Colvinius: Lord Monckton urging mining owners to buy up papers & TV stations for political influence http://t.co/xRUgErn5

ToryShepherd

@JohnHillMP it's a spectacular part of the world

ToryShepherd

RT @JohnHillMP: “@ToryShepherd: Star of Greece #happinesshttp://t.co/rPrvB4sL” Welcome to my electorate. #enjoy!

ToryShepherd

Star of Greece #happinesshttp://t.co/faYa2ZWq

Recent posts

The latest and greatest

Gillard’s mapping a route but will probably still be routed

Gillard’s mapping a route but will probably still be routed

Julia Gillard and her advisers believe they can see a narrow path to victory for Labor at the next federal…

Kevin 2.0 could be better. Or it could be even KRuddier.

Kevin 2.0 could be better. Or it could be even KRuddier.

As key moments go, it ranked with Gough Whitlam’s dramatic dismissal speech branding Malcolm Fraser…

Working women need to escape the grog bog

Working women need to escape the grog bog

Can you hear a faint sort of teeth-grindy sound? No it’s not the rats in the roof gnawing the wires…

Nosebleed Section

choice ringside rantings

From: Other stuff to be angry about today (with video)

DOB says:

For the last 2 summers my local beach - which is a kid's beach really (but it has a nice cafe - thats my excuse) - has been overrun by jetskis. So when I go off for an idyllic morning of sun and sand I might as well just go down to an industrial plant and soak up the noise and fumes. My area is a bit… [read more]

From: Match of the century!

Pete says:

Since when has Australia been a land full of whinging, whiney and just plain annoying people. Seriously, we have to take a long hard look at ourselves and notice that we have it pretty damn good and that instead of whinging about every single article ever written we could perhaps be happy and enjoy things.… [read more]

Gentle jabs to the ribs

No wuckin forries. These nuckin futs are tuckin fops

No wuckin forries. These nuckin futs are tuckin fops

Well, puck me with a fitchfork. The F-word is apparently an acceptable part of Australian speech. That’s… Read more

147 comments

Newsletter

Read all about it

Sign up to the free daily Punch newsletter