http://www.thepunch.com.au/tags/labor/ Politics, political opinion, world news, sports news and the latest news and views updated live, daily on The Punch - Australia's best conversation. en Copyright 2012 The Punch penberthyd@newsltd.com.au penberthyd@newsltd.com.au Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:45:28 +0000 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:45:28 +0000 Politics, opinion, world news, sports news, latest news, views, Barack Obama, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Nathan Rees, Malcolm Turnbull, Peter Garrett, Barnaby Joyce, Australian, federal politics, opinion polls, election, The Punch, thepunch, punch ExpressionEngine 1.6.7 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 15 http://www.thepunch.com.au/images/punch-logo-rss.png http://www.thepunch.com.au/ 144 70 Politics, political opinion, world news, sports news and the latest news and views updated live, daily on The Punch - Australia's best conversation. Search The Punch keywords http://www.thepunch.com.au/search/ http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Gillards-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 election. They spent the Christmas break devising a political strategy aimed at taking the Government along that path. Wednesday’s speech by the prime minister - titled `Building a new Australian economy together’ - was, in effect, a map of the route she plans to take. Sadly for Gillard, it is almost certainly too late. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Tory Shepherd) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Gillards-mapping-a-route-but-will-probably-still-be-routed/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Gillards-mapping-a-route-but-will-probably-still-be-routed/#item7684 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:45:28 +0000 Let’s add some truth to the debate on the Fair Work Act: Here are the facts on labour market productivity, lost time from industrial disputes, real wage growth and profits from Australian corporations. This year will be a big year for the Government and for Australia. One of our challenges will be the review of our Fair Work Act. This will be an examination of whether the Act is operating as intended and whether the legislation could be improved in order to achieve its objective.  The Opposition will no doubt be using this opportunity to soften the ground for a return to WorkChoices. The Liberal backbench are falling over each other to force Tony Abbott to move closer to the policy of the Howard government. The sensible question that people should be asking in this debate is – what makes an effective modern workplace relations system? http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/just-the-facts-on-labors-workplace-reforms/ Let’s add some truth to the debate on the Fair Work Act: Here are the facts on labour market productivity, lost time from industrial disputes, real wage growth and profits from Australian corporations. This year will be a big year for the Government and for Australia. One of our challenges will be the review of our Fair Work Act. This will be an examination of whether the Act is operating as intended and whether the legislation could be improved in order to achieve its objective.  The Opposition will no doubt be using this opportunity to soften the ground for a return to WorkChoices. The Liberal backbench are falling over each other to force Tony Abbott to move closer to the policy of the Howard government. The sensible question that people should be asking in this debate is – what makes an effective modern workplace relations system? feedback@thepunch.com.au (Tory Shepherd) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/just-the-facts-on-labors-workplace-reforms/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/just-the-facts-on-labors-workplace-reforms/#item7650 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:45:28 +0000 Let’s add some truth to the debate on the Fair Work Act: Here are the facts on labour market productivity, lost time from industrial disputes, real wage growth and profits from Australian corporations. This year will be a big year for the Government and for Australia. One of our challenges will be the review of our Fair Work Act. This will be an examination of whether the Act is operating as intended and whether the legislation could be improved in order to achieve its objective.  The Opposition will no doubt be using this opportunity to soften the ground for a return to WorkChoices. The Liberal backbench are falling over each other to force Tony Abbott to move closer to the policy of the Howard government. The sensible question that people should be asking in this debate is – what makes an effective modern workplace relations system? http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Im-labor-im-pro-life-and-im-no-political-hypocrite/ I am extremely proud to be a member of the Australian Labor Party. A party that is committed to pricing carbon, that is increasing superannuation, and that will soon introduce Australia’s first National Disability Scheme. I was proud when we started building the Education Revolution, apologised to our Indigenous brothers and sisters for the pain and suffering that previous Government’s have subjected them to, and when we introduced paid maternity leave. November 24, 2007 was the day I will always remember as the day the people of Australia voted against inequality in the work place and, for as long as I live and breathe, I will fight against any party that tries to remove Australians’ rights at work. I am also pro-life. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Tory Shepherd) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Im-labor-im-pro-life-and-im-no-political-hypocrite/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Im-labor-im-pro-life-and-im-no-political-hypocrite/#item7621 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:45:28 +0000 Let’s add some truth to the debate on the Fair Work Act: Here are the facts on labour market productivity, lost time from industrial disputes, real wage growth and profits from Australian corporations. This year will be a big year for the Government and for Australia. One of our challenges will be the review of our Fair Work Act. This will be an examination of whether the Act is operating as intended and whether the legislation could be improved in order to achieve its objective.  The Opposition will no doubt be using this opportunity to soften the ground for a return to WorkChoices. The Liberal backbench are falling over each other to force Tony Abbott to move closer to the policy of the Howard government. The sensible question that people should be asking in this debate is – what makes an effective modern workplace relations system? http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/a-year-after-christmas-island-another-awful-tragedy-at-sea/ It’s almost exactly a year since the Christmas Island tragedy, when dozens of asylum seekers died on Australia’s doorstep. In an event which everyone predicted - but which no one managed to prevent - more boats came and sank. Now, there has been a tragedy on an even larger scale, with hundreds of asylum seekers feared dead after yet another overloaded, unsafe boat sank, killing people who were desperate for a better life. Christmas Island, and the spectre of another mass drowning, should have been the crisis that broke the political impasse. But it didn’t. There is an eerie sense of rigid paralysis in our politics when it comes to this issue. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Tory Shepherd) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/a-year-after-christmas-island-another-awful-tragedy-at-sea/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/a-year-after-christmas-island-another-awful-tragedy-at-sea/#item7407 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:45:28 +0000 Let’s add some truth to the debate on the Fair Work Act: Here are the facts on labour market productivity, lost time from industrial disputes, real wage growth and profits from Australian corporations. This year will be a big year for the Government and for Australia. One of our challenges will be the review of our Fair Work Act. This will be an examination of whether the Act is operating as intended and whether the legislation could be improved in order to achieve its objective.  The Opposition will no doubt be using this opportunity to soften the ground for a return to WorkChoices. The Liberal backbench are falling over each other to force Tony Abbott to move closer to the policy of the Howard government. The sensible question that people should be asking in this debate is – what makes an effective modern workplace relations system? http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/anyone-but-gillard-vs-anyone-but-rudd/ When Julia Gillard walked into a press conference on Monday to announce a new ministerial line-up, it was already being reported that she had been stared down by her own ministers. Just weeks after the triumph of securing an extra number in parliament via Peter Slipper’s appointment as Speaker, her limited authority in the party, evident at National Conference, had been graphically laid bare. Two ministers, the popular but factionally unaligned Peter Garrett, and the ultra-cautious Attorney General Robert McClelland, had simply refused to fall on their swords. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Tory Shepherd) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/anyone-but-gillard-vs-anyone-but-rudd/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/anyone-but-gillard-vs-anyone-but-rudd/#item7390 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:45:28 +0000 Let’s add some truth to the debate on the Fair Work Act: Here are the facts on labour market productivity, lost time from industrial disputes, real wage growth and profits from Australian corporations. This year will be a big year for the Government and for Australia. One of our challenges will be the review of our Fair Work Act. This will be an examination of whether the Act is operating as intended and whether the legislation could be improved in order to achieve its objective.  The Opposition will no doubt be using this opportunity to soften the ground for a return to WorkChoices. The Liberal backbench are falling over each other to force Tony Abbott to move closer to the policy of the Howard government. The sensible question that people should be asking in this debate is – what makes an effective modern workplace relations system? http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/this-is-no-good-time-to-give-mps-a-payrise/ If MPs want to argue they are worth $185,000 a year base pay they might first explain how Labor’s Craig Thomson spent 42 days overseas on a taxpayer ticket and couldn’t describe what he did in his own words. He had to crib from the speeches of others – word for word. They might also explain how independent Speaker Peter Slipper, when a Liberal, could go through $7000 on overseas telephone calls using the mobile funded by taxpayers. All up he spent $14,000 on telecommunications in six months. The man just isn’t that popular. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Tory Shepherd) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/this-is-no-good-time-to-give-mps-a-payrise/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/this-is-no-good-time-to-give-mps-a-payrise/#item7387 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:45:28 +0000 Let’s add some truth to the debate on the Fair Work Act: Here are the facts on labour market productivity, lost time from industrial disputes, real wage growth and profits from Australian corporations. This year will be a big year for the Government and for Australia. One of our challenges will be the review of our Fair Work Act. This will be an examination of whether the Act is operating as intended and whether the legislation could be improved in order to achieve its objective.  The Opposition will no doubt be using this opportunity to soften the ground for a return to WorkChoices. The Liberal backbench are falling over each other to force Tony Abbott to move closer to the policy of the Howard government. The sensible question that people should be asking in this debate is – what makes an effective modern workplace relations system? http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/loyalty-rewarded-as-gillard-shuffles-cabinet/ Revenge or reward? News broke this morning of the Prime Minister’s Cabinet reshuffle. Out with (some) of the old, and in with (some) of the new. It’s alleged that ministers who have expressed their support for Kevin Rudd, will fare the worst. Loyal supporters can expect a promotion. Small Business Minister Nick Sherry has already stepped down. Follow all of the action as it unfolds at News.com.au. The Kevin Rudd hoo-doo will be linked to every appointment made by Prime Minister Julia Gillard. Each new minister, and the relocated ones, will be weighed on the Gillard-Rudd scales. The ministerial overhaul is aimed at filling a vacancy and reinforcing the Government’s campaign to make jobs and economic stability the central theme for 2012. Small Business Minister Nick Sherry provided the vacancy and few would question that the Government needs a sharper focus for the coming year. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Tory Shepherd) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/loyalty-rewarded-as-gillard-shuffles-cabinet/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/loyalty-rewarded-as-gillard-shuffles-cabinet/#item7356 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:45:28 +0000 Let’s add some truth to the debate on the Fair Work Act: Here are the facts on labour market productivity, lost time from industrial disputes, real wage growth and profits from Australian corporations. This year will be a big year for the Government and for Australia. One of our challenges will be the review of our Fair Work Act. This will be an examination of whether the Act is operating as intended and whether the legislation could be improved in order to achieve its objective.  The Opposition will no doubt be using this opportunity to soften the ground for a return to WorkChoices. The Liberal backbench are falling over each other to force Tony Abbott to move closer to the policy of the Howard government. The sensible question that people should be asking in this debate is – what makes an effective modern workplace relations system? http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Conference-turns-to-conscience-on-conjugality/ John Howard said it helped MPs “reflect upon their experiences, values”. Kim Beazley said it was “a wonderful thing” to do. The late John Button said, “Let the winds of principle blow through the House.” They were talking about exercising a parliamentary conscience vote and were so enthusiastic for it you would imagine conscience votes happen all the time. But they don’t, for reasons shared by leaders of all major parties. In fact they are rare. By my calculation there were 30 conscience votes in Federal Parliament between 1955 and now. (The always-splendid Parliamentary Library has this research paper.) Prime Minister Julia Gillard wants to make that tally 31 by tomorrow, asking the ALP national conference in Sydney for a conscience vote on gay marriage. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Tory Shepherd) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Conference-turns-to-conscience-on-conjugality/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Conference-turns-to-conscience-on-conjugality/#item7285 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:45:28 +0000 Let’s add some truth to the debate on the Fair Work Act: Here are the facts on labour market productivity, lost time from industrial disputes, real wage growth and profits from Australian corporations. This year will be a big year for the Government and for Australia. One of our challenges will be the review of our Fair Work Act. This will be an examination of whether the Act is operating as intended and whether the legislation could be improved in order to achieve its objective.  The Opposition will no doubt be using this opportunity to soften the ground for a return to WorkChoices. The Liberal backbench are falling over each other to force Tony Abbott to move closer to the policy of the Howard government. The sensible question that people should be asking in this debate is – what makes an effective modern workplace relations system? http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/in-politics-its-all-just-a-little-bit-of-history-repeating/ For SA Premier Mike Rann, “school” ends today, and from 9am tomorrow, he is on holidays. This is earlier than he wanted, but the right-wing “shoppies” union gave him no choice. No wonder he has spent much of his last days railing against factional influence in the Labor party. Mr Rann has had a long innings since taking over the Premier’s job on March 5, 2002. Not a record, by a long way. The Liberal and Country League government of Tom Playford set the record, from 1938 to 1965, a longevity which will probably never be beaten. Of course, he did have a heavily biased election system in his favour. That long Liberal reign was followed by a Labor domination. Of the 46 years from 1965 until now, Labor has been in office for 35. And that period has been dominated by three Labor Premiers: Don Dunstan (1967 – 79), John Bannon (1982 – 92), and Mike Rann (2002 – 11). In those data is one reason for the Rann angst at being pushed out of the job early – he could have achieved the record of being the longest serving Labor Premier. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Tory Shepherd) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/in-politics-its-all-just-a-little-bit-of-history-repeating/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/in-politics-its-all-just-a-little-bit-of-history-repeating/#item6964 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:45:28 +0000 Let’s add some truth to the debate on the Fair Work Act: Here are the facts on labour market productivity, lost time from industrial disputes, real wage growth and profits from Australian corporations. This year will be a big year for the Government and for Australia. One of our challenges will be the review of our Fair Work Act. This will be an examination of whether the Act is operating as intended and whether the legislation could be improved in order to achieve its objective.  The Opposition will no doubt be using this opportunity to soften the ground for a return to WorkChoices. The Liberal backbench are falling over each other to force Tony Abbott to move closer to the policy of the Howard government. The sensible question that people should be asking in this debate is – what makes an effective modern workplace relations system? http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-carbon-tax-all-economic-pain-no-environmental-gain/ So the Gillard government has now rammed its 19 carbon tax bills through the House of Representatives. This is despite an emphatic pre-election promise that there would be no carbon tax under a Gillard led government, in defiance of strong public opposition to the tax and in spite of overwhelming evidence that a carbon tax is not in our national interest. The bills will now move to the Senate. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Tory Shepherd) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-carbon-tax-all-economic-pain-no-environmental-gain/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-carbon-tax-all-economic-pain-no-environmental-gain/#item6905 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:45:28 +0000 Let’s add some truth to the debate on the Fair Work Act: Here are the facts on labour market productivity, lost time from industrial disputes, real wage growth and profits from Australian corporations. This year will be a big year for the Government and for Australia. One of our challenges will be the review of our Fair Work Act. This will be an examination of whether the Act is operating as intended and whether the legislation could be improved in order to achieve its objective.  The Opposition will no doubt be using this opportunity to soften the ground for a return to WorkChoices. The Liberal backbench are falling over each other to force Tony Abbott to move closer to the policy of the Howard government. The sensible question that people should be asking in this debate is – what makes an effective modern workplace relations system?