Shortly I will be seeking meetings with the newly elected ALP leaders Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard and other Shadow Minsisters.
I want to ensure the leaders of the alternative Government understand the issues that are important to CPSU members - such as fairer workplace laws and a strong, independent public sector.
But are there other priority issues the CPSU should take up with the ALP?
The Enviroment? Welfare? Health? Education? Skills? Medibank?
Please feel free to post your thoughts below and let us know what you're looking for from the new look Federal Opposition.
In Unity
Stephen Jones
CPSU National Secretary.
I want to ensure the leaders of the alternative Government understand the issues that are important to CPSU members - such as fairer workplace laws and a strong, independent public sector.
But are there other priority issues the CPSU should take up with the ALP?
The Enviroment? Welfare? Health? Education? Skills? Medibank?
Please feel free to post your thoughts below and let us know what you're looking for from the new look Federal Opposition.
In Unity
Stephen Jones
CPSU National Secretary.
80 comments:
There are so many issues that the new Opposition need to look at, but the issue that hits home for me is the environment. The Howard Government’s last ditch attempt to latch onto environmental issues has been laughable. Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard need to present a comprehensive environmental policy that shows the Australian public that they actually care about what happens to our country and our children’s future.
I'd like to hear what plans Kev and Jules have for the public service.
Can we expect a repeat of the '96 bloodbath when the Libs cleaned house?
What public undertakings will the ALP make when it comes to protecting APS jobs?
I reckon you'll be able to hear a pin drop..
If they win - and it's still a big 'if' - they must restore Public Service 'frankness' and 'fearless-ness'.
As we have seen with AWB and other scandals, there is too much 'carpet bagging' and the 'pre-emptive buckle' is endemic.
Bring David Hicks home. Make this commitment and you will have my vote.
Like the Milky Bar Kid, is Kevin "strong and tough"?
The current state of policies affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders is a national disgrace.
The state of indigenous health is shameful.
Incarceration rates continue to rise, fuelled by endemic substance abuse and a drought of education and employment opportunities.
Representative structures have been trashed in favour of paternalistic governence that is an echo of the 50s.
And in the APS - once a leader in employment and community delvelopment - numbers of Indigenous employees continue to fall sharply.
The ALP needs to get serious and promote a new deal for the oldest Australians.
But the appointment of Jenny 'Ms Invisible' Macklin as the shadow spokesperson is a worrying start.
Five steps to explaining the ideological link between “Workchoices” and the “Welfare to Work” reforms:
1: Remove pesky unfair dismissal laws, award safety nets, annoying union protections etc.
2: Sack all the lazy, good-for-nothing trouble makers for speaking up, being active, being young, being old, having children, having parents, having grandparents, having lives, being disabled, being ill - you get the picture.
3. Make it nigh on impossible for the buggers to do anything about it legally, because they certainly shouldn’t be able to afford $20,000 legal fees for Federal Court challenge when they’ve just lost their job, should they?
4: When they apply to Centrelink because they no longer have a job and can't support themselves or their family, penalise their access to benefits for the first 8 weeks because clearly it was their own fault for getting sacked in the first place and they just should have known better.
5: Penalise them further when they miss an appointment because they didn’t get their mail because they don’t have somewhere to live because they didn’t have any money for the last 2 months;
Repeat ad nauseum...you get my drift.
So if Labor could actually show how they intend to untangle such intricate web of ideological attacks on those least able to defend themselves...then yeah, I'll vote for them!
The issues hurting 'middle australia' and young families most - cost of living and childcare!
These have gone backwards under the Howard Govt.. what's the Labor Govt's plan?
All political parties aspire to be in charge of the government and by extension the public service. Encourage them to recognise that this is a conflict of interest and remove formal union representation from the Labor Party. This will give the CPSU greater freedom to be critical of a future labor government if it intends to reduce public service benefits (in contrast to the weakness shown by the union in the past).
I am concerned about the views you expressed on the bill to allow therapeutic cloning. This debate was characterised by a refusal by certain religious groups to accept the basic science in this research, and your comments reflect that erroneous position.
Therapeutic cloning involves growing a skin cell in an unfertilised egg to grow stem cells. The result is genetically identical to the donor cell, which remains alive throughout the process. No life is taken and no life is created in this process. An existing life is grown on, albeit in a different form. How any rational person can say that this involves creating a form of human life to destroy it defies basic science and logic.
There are half a million Australian families in which one or more members have a lifelong chronic disease or condition. When we finally get around to declaring War on Disease in this country, it will be clear that we have treated our dedicated world class medical researchers far worse than our Vietnam vets.
The debate was emotional and misdirected, but the Parliament has made its decision and the time has come to move forward, and repair the damage that has been done. You need to re-build bridges with the medical research community and act to restore confidence in young science graduates that medical research is a worthwhile and socially valued career path to take.
I suggest Kevin recognises the need for the separation of church and state in politics. He should be here to support the people not his imaginary friend. Put aside your superstitions and join reality and maybe I might vote for you.
Within the APS there is little industrial democracy at present. Management seem to do whatever pleases them. Managers are given permission to play God with performance reviews and use this as a means of intimidation towards those they don't like. If you complain you get a reputation as a 'trouble-maker'.
Get rid of Performance Agreements. They just cause stress and are far too open to abuse.
One important issue that has caused this country a lot of problems is the fact that young people are not doing apprenticeships, but going onto the dole. The main reason is that "our smarter nation" policy did not work. Young people who want to do an apprenticeship should be able to leave school in year 10, and not go onto year 12.
This way young people interested in doing an apprenticeship can leave school earlier, earn a wage, learn a trade,help the nation & economy and take a load off CenterLink.In the first place
we should be training our own children, not trying to import tradesmen/women from overseas.
Sometimes looking back to see how we operated successfully in the past is not a bad idea.
Hi here are my thoughts.
I call it...
Basics Supporting the Future
Education, health, environment are biggest points.
Address the issue of lack of teachers by improving wages / conditions and status in society
Address the issue of lack of nurses through two channel work force, degree and non degree also wages. Having only degree is locking out good basic nurses. Also status in society
Address the issue of lack of trades by giving true incentives to employers, but ensure they must keep them for full term to derive full benefit. Not use for 1st year and then dump and get another one. We cannot depend on other countries to train our tradespeople and then poach them, which is liberals strategy.
IT for Schools strategy
Take all IT equipment coming out of gov depts local / Fed and place directly into schools i.e. computers desktop and servers / networking. In that way our educational institutions could spend their monies on other items such as teachers. This would apply for both public and private.
Emergency services strategy
Support all emergency servces i.e. Westpac helicopter and flying doctor service etc. Stop pseudo tax through fund raising. Gov gave $1 billion to Indonesia should they have given $500 mil and spent the rest on Australia.
Do this will provide training and exposure to youth and a path towards other careers: pilot, doctor, admin etc.
Smart Medicare strategy
Keep Medicare and improve ebusiness strategies. This whole program / strategy needs review, could be better and have been implemented already.
Sure it is Medicare, but needs to be pulled from Medicare and ran as a separate area. HESA definitely needs to be pulled and made a separate body if the future of PKI in this country is to fly.
Smart country
Move country to technology based 'medicines, space, computing, agriculture, nanotechnology etc, not resources based.
Stop brain drain by supporting CSIRO, unis and schools etc. If the bright get to play with their toys. Need to improve preferred learning style for children in schools as this will decrease drop out rate. Currently system mostly caters for visual.
Power for the future strategy
Move away from nuclear power.
1st lease back, now a move to plants around country. at the end of the day the strategy is to have Australia become a storage facility for other countries Nuclear waste. We need a solid alternative power strategy, why can we not use nanotechnology /education/R&D/ unis/CSIRO etc, to improve power generation.
Water strategy
Have a solid water strategy in place with a move away from water intensive food production i.e. rice etc, and exportation of water through plants to other countries i.e. This will mean a move to something else and funding but the future of real shortages / no water is coming. Point against liberals why can we not use education/R&D/ unis/CSIRO etc.
Automotive strategy
Support move to alternative vehicles i.e. hydrogen oriented or electricity.
Again this could be tied into the education/R&D/ unis/CSIRO etc.
Liberals have not made a strong stance re directions and using these resources to support.
Have people who can dialogue about society and why families are breaking down/ youth&aged suicide, drugs etc. Money is not just the answer.
families break down society breaks down
David Wag
Dear Kevin and Julia, AWA injustice must be exposed to Australia. As an Australian Public Servant, I feel ashamed of the Howard years 'carpet-bagger' AWA culture in our APS where bureaucrat executives can take fortunes in performance bonuses, while other workers eg. nurses and our youth have nothing like this political and financial free-rein.
THE ALP could pick up some valuable minority votes by developing strategies to re-entice the down-to-earth, green, left intelligentsia who have thrown pragmatism to the wind to embrace their ideals and vote for the wonderful Mr Brown and the Greens at all levels of government in all Houses. Me, I'm determined not to vote ALP again, although some strange magnetic force has beseiged me in bygone years in the ballot box and drawn my ticking hand back to that darned ALP box - Kate, Camperdown
Justice for David Hicks of course.
A return to a frank and fearless public service, one of which I used to be proud to work in.
And please be a real opposition-do not pander to the "me too" fear campaigns of the past. We the people are looking for an alternative. Give us a reason to vote for you.
Absolutely no nuclear power. We must live within our energy means.
Ratifying Kyoto would begin to restore our international reputation.
End detention of asylum seekers, look at how other countries manage refugees in a way consistent with the 1951 UN Convention relating to the status of Refugees.
Pretty well all of what David Wag has said makes sense so I would endorse that.
Also endorse an earlier anonymous commentator who said Kevin should recognise the need for separation of church and state, although try reading his essay on Faith and Politics in the monthly recently (if you haven't already). His argument for an inclusive society based on Christian principles is more appealing than the current Christian right "family values of convenience" dogma, as long as you're the right sort of family that seems to have a strong foothold in Government Policy.
The main priorities for me, in addition to the installation of a fair and equitable workplace are:
- removal of our forces from Iraq once a stable and solid government is formed;
- effective policy to deal with water resources and climate change including addressing the issue of overpopulation on this sparse continent and alternative energy;
- free tertiary education with something like a compulsory regional internship to replace HECS for medical and education graduates;
- additional money to combat the growing drug problem via a stronger and well resourced police force;
- protection for Australian farmers who live under a so called free trade agreement but who have to compete with heavily subsidised competitors overseas;
- better training for teachers with emphasis on literary skills and a higher UAI to gain entry to the course (teachers are more important that lawyers);
- increase spending on trades courses and greater access for young people.
There are many issues, and these are some of them.
-
I'm looking for a more serious application of the Transition to Retirement principles to the APS, particularly the ATO.
Thanks
Robert Cattell
The ALP needs to decide on its policies and stick to them, not engage in the reactionary, vote-pandering politics of the Liberal party.
Howard buys votes with his short-term announcements - the ALP may remain in opposition for the next 2 terms, but over this time they need to prove themselves a real opposition and win back the vote of the middle - and stop engaging in the politics of fear.
I have experienced the privlege of hearing Julia speak in Brisbane and from that day forward, have expressed nothing but the greatest respect of her. So one can say that I was over the moon when she became deputy and even more so when she took on the IR portfolio. I honestly believe we have a chance to save this country at the next election, and well... to be honest, I think the survival of this country depends on it.
I am a health professional and besides a concern about the trend towards a "user pays" and "egotistical" attitude in regards to health and other social services, I am concerned about how difficult it is for the low and middle classes to get ahead. I'm in my early 20's and who was born to a teenage mother. I grew up in poverty and at times homeless, (ironically during the time that Keating proclaimed that no Australian child will be living in poverty) while my mother studied and worked as a nurse. But we are lucky. We were able to break the cycle of poverty that consumes so many, and now I am in the profession I love, a well respected and well paid one at that. It breaks my heart when I spend my days seeing patients that are struggling to survive and who are trapped in the cycle. I am also eternally grateful that if it wasn't for the money that the federal government (albeit grossly underfunded) gave towards health, these people wouldn't be treated at all.
I am doing my best to spread the message amongst my workmates, sporting teammates and friends but am experiencing many negative comments and actions about the "YRAW" campaign, mainly due to the public perception of the Labor Party in the past few years along with a apathetic or defeatist attitude of the individuals concerned. Many also object to the "YRAW" shirts I wear while training or umpiring hockey.
My suggestions to the Labor Party are as follows:
1)improve your image to the general "disinterested" voting public because it's easier to maintain the status quo, and by god, this country simply can't afford another 3 years of the current meglomanic. and,
2)don't travel down the same worn Liberal path of individualistic greed and abandon your consistuents. They need a strong, fair and balanced government to survive.
Congratulations, good luck and best wishes!
Very concerned about the legislation secretly trying to be passed by the current Australian & New Zealand governments to put the control of the health food industry in the hands of drug companies via the TGA. This will drive costs up and destroy the current choice we have and may affect the livelihood of current producers. The drug companies have shown a distain for health products in the past and will not look after the comsumer but are driven by greed & profit.
To get my vote the ALP would need strong policies on the following:
* Withdrawal of troops from Iraq/Afghanistan
* Education - that is ensuring standards of literacy and numeracy are increased and maintained
* Centrelink - ensuring that the baby bonus is regulated and not just for those women under 18. Also tighter criteria for women who continue having children to obtain parenting payments.
* Previous comments on the separate of church and state are important. As a multicultural society we should have a basic understanding of all cultures and religions and as such this should be taught in schools
* On sensitive issues such as abortion, stem cell research and euthanasia decisions should be made by referendum and not parliamentary vote
* Definite policies on illicit drugs with tough and compulsory penalties for dealers and certainly not support for those caught in other countries trafficking drugs
Defence,industrial relations, environment,health and education.
If Labor can give commitments that these areas would benefit if they were in government I will vote for them.
Dear Kevin and Julia,
Give our kids the opportunity we had: free tertiary education with university entry based on merit not money.
Superannuation reform -
Howard leads here - Example - proposed tax relief for 60 yo superannuants
National Superannuation? I have the Whitlam government paper on this proposal .......
I am a retired life member. Although the new workplace laws do not affect me directly, they concern me because I have children and grandchildren. Even if everything else in the garden was rosy, I would vote against the Howard government on that issue alone. Last election I voted against Mark Latham because it was obvious to me that he was bad bad news. I hope I will not be forced to do that again.
Access to health care is an important issue and one on which the ALP sends mixed messages.
My wife and I have paid private health insurance for almost fifty years and I would not appreciate a policy which affected that adversely.
My message to them is a simple one. You have your best chance in the last ten years to replace Howard. Please do not stuff it up.
It is time that a government (hopefully a Labor Government) had the courage to offer couples the option to income-split. That would do more than anything else to reduce the tax burden on low income families and especially the young couples trying to make their way with a young family to consider.
As a matter of interest I e-mailed this suggestion to Kim Beasley before the last election and did not even get the courtesy of an acknowledgement let alone a reply.
Dear CPSU
I would like you to ask the opposition leaders Kevin and Julia what they are going to do about the perversion of the APS in regards to the very partisan liberal stooges that now hold positions of influence in many government agencies? As a workplace delegate and section counsellor fighting for staff's rights at work, I have come under every increasing pressure, scrutiny and threats of discipline for arguing against the Workchoices legislation, AWAs, and the Howard governments attack on workers in general. I have had to contend with unlawful emails from the manager of HR here in Medicare Australia advising managers not to approve leave for staff that want to attend the national days of action. Staff have been threatened with the sack for merely questioning their rights. And although we have a Certified Agreement here at Medicare Australia, the workplace relations team have ignored it, broken it and dismissed it in regards to what staff are entitled to under it.
Let me say now, that given the eagerness, enthusiasm and down right gleefulness with which many of these liberal stooges have instigated and enforced Howard's legislational changes, if they are not dealt with when Labour wins the next election, I have no doubt they will continue to act in the best interests of the liberal party and it's ultimate goal of killing off the union movement.
What say you?
I'd like to see politicians to have the same superannuation access rights as ordinary working Australians.
I'd also like there to be some scheme whereby you can use your superannuation to purchase a house for your main residence but the money must go back into the fund when you sell the house.
I'd like to see more money put into practical medical requirements & less money put into duplication of services to cater for minority groups or large metal "artwork" adorning highways.
I have some thoughts I'd like included in a CPSU message to Kevin and Julia.
First of all, I'm very happy to see them in charge. I thought Kim was a great leader, but Julia and Kevin have both impressed me with their ability to handle the media, and to address issues seriously and objectively.
The issue I have is childcare - it's too bloody hard to get! I'd like to see better tax relief such as salary sacrifice with no FBT for in-home nannies, easier to access childcare subsidies for nannies (which is better cash-flow than tax relief for those on low incomes), and programs to encourage after-school care for pre-schools. Pre-school would be a great way to get low-income workers back into the labour market when their child turns 4, but only covers 9am til 1pm, 2 days a week.
We could also encourage au pairs - an in-home nanny or mother's help. Au pairs usually live in the family home and become a part of the extended family. They are often young women from overseas on a "gap year" in Australia. Au pairs are relatively inexpensive as their room & meals are part of the wage. Being in-home care means au pairs are also a good option for rural areas with fewer childcare centres, or shift workers who cannot access other forms of care. The difficulty for families wanting an au pair is that it can be hard to find one. Government programs could assist families in doing security checks on their safety in a child-caring job, before they arrive in Australia. It would help reduce childcare wait lists, and might help women looking to migrate to Australia from other countries. It can also be a great learning experience for children to have someone in the home who has a different cultural background.
Child Support Legislation and Family Court processes are in desperate need to be re-visited as the system is still appallingly unfair, towards the non residential parent in the case of the CSA,and toward fathers once in the Court system. These systems work ok when parents are in agreement but are woefully inadequate when there is conflict which then creates more uncertainty,stress and misery for the children.PLEASE do something about these issues
In response to your Issue 65 and the brief article on Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard yes I feel this could be great change to the ALP. Certainly some fresh talent for sure! When the CPSU does meet or put forward items to Kevin Rudd I would like the CPSU to bring to Kevin's attention the fact that my Superannuation in the CSS Federal Government fund does not recognise my same sex partner. I have been in a happy and loving relationship for 6 years, even marrying "legally" in Canada in October 2004. Back here in my own country it does not account for anything and as far as Howard is concerned our relationship does not really exist!! Certainly I would like to see Kevin Rudd make my Superannuation fund acknowledge our relationship and treat us like their hetrosexual counterparts. I recently found out I do not even have the option to get out of CSS and take my money else where. Interesting enough the fund my partner is in acknowledges me for the same benefits. So I am stuck with a fund I must contribute to with no equal benefits. Let us hope Kevin Rudd can bring Australia into line with other forward thinking countries.
Never let environmental issues be put aside, not even for workplace relations. Why? Without a serious approach to environmental issues, and the ability to influence more tardy nations in this respect, everyone's future will be bleak.
I think we need to raise as an issue, the increasing 'Americanisation' of the public service. In particular the increasingly unbridled power of ministerial staffers. A lot of federal public servants have only ever worked for the Howard government. Those of us who've been in the APS for 30 years or more, long for the days when ministers didn't micro-manage funding programs for political advantage and when public servants were strong enough to stand up to them when they did. We don't want an incoming ALP government to continue with the coalition's corrupt practises in public administration.
Hi and thanks for this opportunity
i would like to see more flexible working arrangements or working parents.
the current gov wants more mums in work, but the new ir laws offer them no security ( that's what i can determine).
I'd like a fairer tax system. also my partner and I who both work( me
part-time) just miss out on family tax benefits, but girl friends who don't work, who's partners earn more than mine get the f/t ben.-i just don't get it!
I worry about the environment and how we are now talking about Nuclear energy. Why not solar we have so much desert and sun, why not put solar power plants out there if at all possible.
I worry about our water supply not enough is being done about this we need more action to preserve this resource
It concerns me that Howard removed legislation to protect the environment and that I only heard about via ABC t.v Press Club. Labour what were you doing why did you not make this a big issue in the press. This is what Mr Bush did in the USA.
Generally it concerns me that beautiful Australia and our life style the is going to the wall with Mr H. I have lived in three countries and I can tell you that the Australian way of life and our values are worth persevering as is our very strong work ethic.
I worry that the new i/r laws will create an underclass of working poor as is the case in USA. while i think that i won't ever fall into this category, you just never know what life can throw at you and the situation you may end up in. so l feel anxious about these changes for myself, me fellow Australians and My Child.
Hi
With regard to your request to Kevin Rudd, I would like to say I liked the interview he had with Kerry O'brien on the 7.30 report the day of being elected opposition leader. He used Kerry's name a bit too much and needs an injection of humour, perhaps even a stylist would be good to make him come across a bit more cool or personable, his visual look is very academic. I do agree with him that the message he espouses is the most important and I was really happy to hear him say so succintly: John Howard talks about family values yet has introduced labour laws that will have every house in Australia absent of a parent.' This needs to be his new mantra and I believe if he says it repeatedly he will win the election. If he could also throw in, "Mum's and Dad's of Australia want their kids to be paid overtime and not have greedy employers exploit them, I think he will really hit a cord with the electorate.
Finally I really think it is good that Rudd is pedalling himself as owning a small business, labour need to adapt this as a strategy that wins voters. I work with loads of families who run internet business' from home and we are in danger of losing their vote to the liberal party.
Rachael Healy
Could the union talk to the new opposition about taking some responsibility for hospitals as there seems to be a lot of buck passing about this issue
My main concern, apart from those already listed, is the obsession that the 'Howard Government' has with selling off Australia's assets.
It appears to me that a government has a duty to the people it represents to provide services (even at a cost to the public purse) where private enterprise
either cannot or will not provide the service at a price that is supportable by the general public.
Although, as a public servant, I appreciate the fact that something is finally being done to fund my superannuation (the 'Future Fund') I deplore the loss of government
enterprise for the sole purpose of 'smaller government' by the most intrusive government Australia has ever had.
Darryl
A top five priority...water...water....water...a central co-ordinated response ...not local governments, state & federal governments and various bodies all having a part...too much division/confusion. A strong, co-ordinated policy would be a vote winner too!
Liam
Commonwealth Public Service - changes to superannuation taxation proposed from 1/7/2007
Will they take action to remedy the proposed disadvantage to non-exempt superannuation pensions which arises because successive Federal Governments declined to make taxable contributions to fund the defined benefits payable under the CSS and old PSS schemes? Apart from the proposal set-out in the campaign letters, I believe Comsuper also made a submission on how they could easily calculate the equivalent 15% contributions tax and deduct this prior to paying the after-tax superannuation pension to each over aged 60 beneficiary. The requirement, even after achieving age 60, to return the superannuation pension as taxable income for so named non taxed funds discriminates against this group of pensioners despite the 10% rebate proposition as every other dollar of other income would be subject to tax at the individual's marginal tax rate whereas exempt pensioners have the $6,000 tax free threshold fully available to them before any of their other income is taxed at all.
Are you going to tear up the new IR laws too...?
If you are talking to Kevin & Julia, for God's sake get them to drop that stupid Beasley policy about abolishing AWAs.
There are quite a few CPSU members who - like me - prefer to do our own salary negotitions and are more than capable of doing very well out of the process. AWAs are the only way we have of over-riding a "paid rates" award or certified agreement.
Frankly, Beasley's line about common law contracts doing the job were always just so much hot air. Unless and until the APS adopts "minimum rates" in awards and CAs, this is imply not an option.
Will they support the policy of getting rid of AWA's.
sneaking in an Australia card under the table was a bit underhanded by the present government. It is supposed to replace a whole bunch of other cards, but how safe is the data? Are we becoming like the US where everyone has a social security number, even if we don't collect benefits? This needs to be at least looked at, if not ditched altogether.
Never let environmental issues be put aside, not even for workplace relations. Why? Without a serious approach to environmental issues, and the ability to influence more tardy nations in this respect, everyone's future will be bleak.
Please remind them that they are the head of the labour party and not to forget the workers- otherwise I will not vote for them
Kind Regards
Michael
A guarantee Kevin Rudd won't repeat his slashing of the public service as he did in QLD. It would be a absolutely ridiculous situation if the CPSU raised funds from it's members to campaign against the current government on 'Work Choices' legislation only to see our jobs go.
Regards,
Brett
Hello CPSU
I and many others at CRS Australia are concerned that the Howard Government will close down CRS Australia using a similar approach with what they did to the CES.
CRS Australia have been providing a very effective service to people with disabilities and it would be a huge loss to our community if CRS Australia went. The private sector do not provide the same quality of service as profits come before people, as we have already seen in job network.
I would like to know what the ALP stance is for CRS Australia?
Thanks
Jacinta
Congratulations to Kevin and Julia, we've got 'em on the run, now. Jixie Rose.
The areas our new opposition leaders must concentrate on are those which have caused such consternation in recent years ie reform of immigration and workplace relations laws
We must look after the environment for our children and grandchildren - sign up to the Kyoto Protocol and take genuine steps to counter climate change. Encourage alternative energy sources before nuclear power.
Make childcare affordable - it should be a work-related tax deduction, and FBT free where it's provided by an employer.
Bring David Hicks home.
details, details - not bull#@&* fatherhood statements - its one thing to say "we will rip up AWAs" - but what about the actual detail of the legislation you would seek to have made into law - what i want is protection of my children's rights for the future so don't treat us like dummies - give us the actual details and not just the spin
Hello, although I wouldn’t want an AWA for myself, I think that people who do want one should still be able to have one – but their choice, not employer’s. To wipe AWAs altogether will reduce Labor’s Chance’s of winning the election.
Best wishes
marjorie
From my perspective the two issues of most concern to me are:
Human Rights of Australian Citizens: I think that it is abhorrent that an Australian citizen has been denied natural justice, and imprisoned for in excess of 5 years under conditions that are less humane than we would allow for those committed of any crime in Australia (other than those that have been locked up in the immigration detention centres). Whether or not David Hicks has committed any crime, or had intentions to do so, is not the issue. The real issue is that he has been denied natural justice and that the Australian government has not only denied the principle of presumption of innocence, but has totally abrogated its responsibilities for the protection of the rights of its citizens abroad.
Refugee Policy: In relation to the Labor Party's policies on border protection, I believe that the first step should be to make the distinction between Border Protection (which is a national security issue) and handling of refugees (which is a human rights issue). For too long, the government has adopted policies and passed laws under the guise of "border protection". It has used this emotive to generate fear in the community, and a sense that any criticism or softening of their policies is a threat to national security. Boat people won't take over Australia. Also, the government's claim that their tough policies have been successful in deterring boat arrivals ignores the fact that there is a direct correlation between the numbers of boat arrivals and the number/level of conflict that has generated outflows of refugees.
My number one priority is - The necessity for more dams to hold the rainwater. I say a big no to drinking recycled water. There is no need to drink recycled water there are other options. Industry can use recycled water instead. Don't tell me this is a State issue, it is a federal issue - catching rainwater and not squandering it on vineyards, cotton farms etc.
No nuclear power in Australia because it is dangerous compared with alternatives, and it is not necessary when there are other options.
'No' to selling uranium if if will be returned as nuclear waste to Australia. How stupid could we be? I don't believe we can safely contain it. If others believe that, then bury in their countries.
Remove Work Choices but make cancelling AWAs dependent on the employee's choice. I earn substantially more on an AWA than when I was on an Award. Most people wouldn't, but the option should be there.
If in doubt about the above, Kevin Rudd should consider how Wayne Goss (whom I liked a lot) lost Qld. State government because I and many others voted against the government because it was going to put a road through a large koala colony.
The koalas were not in my electorate nor in many other voters' electorate, but the issues mattered.
Sandra
I think he has 'handled' his public profile beautifully -
I will vote for him and his team in their jocks -
I work with "Welfare to Work" and accept some of it is needed but other parts are just too much to handle for ALL concerned.
And after everything John Howard has done - I'll vote for anyone other than them - Kevin Rudd and his team seem to be viable options. Good Luck!!!!!!
Karen
I would like to see the Government have a serious look at apprentice wages - there is a lot of talk about the difficulty of retaining apprentices but knowing a lot of boys of school leaving age I know how hard it is to survive on $6.00 or so an hour, often working in physically demanding positions and being treated quite badly - especially when a car is often essential and other friends are getting $600.00 in a week. Also some workplaces only keep apprentices on long enough to get whatever money they can and then sack them - having had no intention of training them to completion right from the start.
Dear Julia and Kevin
Congratulations on achieving the first hurdle of chaning Labor party leadership for the better. If you gain power much will be expected of you and I humbly ask that you don't sucumb to pressure and follow the Liberal Party "reactive not proactive" policy of forcing public servants to come up with policies to respond to public and media pressure in ridiculously short timeframes that merely sound like a solution has been found but instead take the time to do the research and talk to the experts on the ground and come up with well thought out plans that will actually achieve something for our dollars.
Please also avoid getting Australia in debt by trying to do too much too soon and develop policies to encourage Australians to save money and be financially responsible again.
For Christmas 2007 I would like you to: bring Australian troops & Mr Hicks home, replace the draconian IR laws giving the IRC back it's teeth and look into including a yearly CPI increase for all so only condition changes or rises need to be negotiated, investigate alternative non-nuclear fuel sources, invest in ways to save run off/stormwater, start rolling out existing successful projects in outback Aboriginal communities nationwide (such as community gardens, fruit and veg co-operatives, health messages through plays and retina imaging photographs to Dr's via email etc) and bring back the days of frank and fearless non-politically spun advice from Government Departments and responsibility by Ministers relegating the power of unelected Advisors to where it belongs in advising the Minister on political spin and not telling Departmental staff how to do their jobs. Don't want much do I:)
You already have my vote, good luck.
The opposition needs to articulate a modern approach to multicultural and immigration policy. Howard's games with dosing laxatives to the masses and showing them that he is the only one in armour by playing cheap tricks with minorities are laughable hysterics of the past. He has become a political dinosaur like Bezley and his time is over.
A clear indication regarding Iraq strategy is also needed. Howard's 'tough'
stance is drawing funny looks even from American figures.
Zygmunt
I have just returned from Asia only to find that countries like Thailand, Malaysia, Japan totally discriminate against none locally born residents. There is no such thing as immigration and certainly no such thing as multiculturalism.
Employment in these countries totally discrimate and require mandatory majority employment of locals. Why is Autralia totally the opposite the the fact that Australian born people are discriminated against so blatently that foreign born people receive preferencial treatment.
We need to take a copy of how Thailand requires 85% Thai born employees in any business. Foreign born people living in Thailand cannot work unless they are sponsored by a company or buy a company. Then they are forced to employ Thai nationals. Nothing wrong with that!
A foreign born person cannot even by land or even a motor vehicle.
Lets bring immigration back under control. Let Australia be for AUSTRALIANS and not for foreign business who bring in cheap labour and put Australians out of work.
I am so worried about what type of world my 15year old daughter will find in the 5 years time when she tries to get a reasonably paid job. Its happening now, cheap labour is now being found from our young Australians and they will not know any difference except they will be forced to live in an economy they they will be meaningless.
Please make Australia, Australian again. Let it be for Australians and stop this multicultural society that has developed. We have an Australian Culture and we welcome influences from other cultures but it must be Australian, nothing else.
Yes I am a Union member and a Labor voter. Keep my vote by changing Australia back to a society that Australians receive a fair go!
Merry Christmas,
All I want is some rain and an election.
My two cents:
Scrap the productivity dividend! It has already long since done its job of increasing productivity; now all it does is increase inefficiency by forcing departments to do their jobs with too few staff - and overstress those staff.
Bruce
The tough part will be convincing workers already on AWAs that they shouldn't persist - we are still in that honeymoon period where short-term gains can be experienced by the workers and many are happy with them. Somehow we need to convey that their underlying conditions are now at the mercy of their employers' policy, rather than preserved in legislation, and that longer-term gains will all be with the employers. It's our kids that will feel that pain.
And I get really annoyed that as soon as their beloved "market forces" tip the way of the in-demand workers, employers can run off overseas and bring in cheap labour.
The combination of these things are taking us towards China-style wages. Is that good for any of us? Why be competitive in a race you don't want to win?
If Kevin and Julia can get IR right, history will smile upon them. And if they can create the platform to put Australia at the vanguard of environmentally sustainable technologies, the world will beat a path to our door - which will mean we export technology to help to world, rather than stocking the shelves of the world's $2 shops as China is presently doing.
4 weeks annual holiday is not enough, I know many people would prefer more holidays. Wage negotiations could include bargaining for extra holidays rather than extra money. The Government might prefer that option too!
Using nuclea energy to generate electricity is a lot cleaner than using fossil fuels. The latest nuclea technologies are proven to be safe, the waste is minimal and is not pushed into the atmosphere. People are side stepping the real issue by saying "we dont want to be come the nuclea waste dump for the world".
I think a Labor Government should look at fixing Medicare and putting some sort of regulation on the current Private Health Care scam which is wide spread throughout the nation. People are wasting money on this "care" because the current Government has convinced them to. It is money for nothing in my view as I've never been able to claim a cent. Other people who have been more misfortunate than myself find themselves with huge medical bills because they weren't covered, even though they pay these ever-increasing premiums. Where does the money go? It is a scam and should be seriously investigated if not outlawed.
If these people want our votes then now is the time to extract concrete promises.More staff, none of this ridiculous endless payrise bargaining.As our potential employers, they are our enemy as much as Howard and co.Hit them hard, and get a commitment for the public service. Do not slavishly adore them just because they are labor. Bargain Hard Now while they are vulnerable. If they win office, the public service will be forgotten again, the same as it always has been. Do not let our union organisers let their own political aspirations get in the way of significant gains for the members.
Hi.
I am an EL1 in the IT area.
In case you want some examples of how the culture has changed (in a far too extreme way) in the public service:
My current supervisor (who is a lovely lady and I have no issues with her as a manager) has informed me that in relation to taking time off in lieue for excess hours worked, it is not an hour for hour exchange. The suggested (accepted with Managers) exchange rate (which has been set from some Manager above her) is 200 excess hours equates to one day time off in lieue. This clearly is exploitation.
In relation to the recent implementation of Welfare to Work - there was a debacle in relation to the paying of overtime to EL1's an EL2's. An agreement had been made that EL1's & EL2's would be paid overtime up until the original implementation date, which was mid June 2006. This implementation date was change to 1st of July 2006, but no one checked/organized for the agreement to also be extended. This resulted in lots of EL1's and EL2's undertaking overtime from mid June 2006 to July 1st 2006, under the incorrect assumption that they would be paid for the overtime. After many battles undertaken by some of our managers and also by at least one union rep (I utilized my union rep Scott Smith, who was fantastic), it was finally agreed that EL1's and EL2's would be paid overtime for the extended 2 week period, but not if they had any time off in lieue recorded against their Infolink record. I happened to have taken time off in lieue, but it was taken prior to undertaking the overtime. There was no attempt to check if the time off in lieue was at all associated with the overtime worked. With Scott Smiths's assistance, I was able to show that the two events were unrelated, and eventually my OT was paid - about 5 months after the overtime had been worked ! It is ridiculous that this battle was required at all! The culture now is that you are expected to give your heart and soul to the organization, but not get paid for all (or in some cases anywhere near) the hours you have put in.
A friend of mine who is working at the AS06 level has been asked by her manager to take on duties at the EL1 level as an 'opportunity' for her career - i.e. to demonstrate that she can work at this level. What happened to acting people up in a job i.e. paying them for the duties they undertake?
Centrelink is currently 'bleeding' i.e. losing staff at a very fast rate. I think this is due to the current culture in the public service (i.e. the give your heart and soul but don't expected to get paid for the hours you put in, or for the level at which you are performing), coupled with the fact that Centrelink does not pay their employees as much as most other agencies. Also, I think the expectations on government employees has increased significantly over the years as well - i.e. the time frames are getting shorter, and the work load bigger
That's it for now - if I think of anything else, I'll send it through.
Cheers,
Hi, everyone at CPSU,
You asked about issues that members would like to have raised with Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard
I would like to know where they stand on multiculturalism. Do they take the approach that John Howard is now taking that integration is more important than muliticulturalism? Do they support SBS as a multicultural, multi-lingual television station?
Regards,
Rosamund
I'd like to know what they are going to do about the rising costs of private health care. I'm one of the lucky ones I have a permanent job, however with the rising cost of health care, I will probably opt out when I retire and this will eventually become unaffordable. Also I want to know what their plans are for the aged. I'm sick of hearing about child care. Take a look at how we treat our valuable oldies and some of the atrocious conditions they are living in, would the present govt. let it happen in a child care centre??
For me to vote for this team, I want stability, intelligence, fairness and keeping all Australians first not just the influential ones.
Politicians should remember that they are being watched all of the time not just when certain big issues or newsworthy events arise. The mundane every day stuff is just as important, so no sensationalism or one off points scoring please.
I would like to endorse what Phil said earlier. My number one priority is scrapping WorkChoices and starting afresh, with proper values. Get IR right in order that future generations will inherit a fair structure of workplace relations. It is obscene that "employers" and the influential get all the breaks, while everyone else's rights are written off with contempt.
Also, as Phil said, developing and innovating in alternative energy. With some planning and carefully targeted assistance, this could be the means to our future niche economic success in a world market that needs and wants this technology. We would thereby help ourselves and the rest of the planet.
Kevin and Julia, you already have my vote. Godspeed to you. Please don't let us down.
Pls bring David Hicks back for a fair trial. Relieve the embarassment we have had these last years for the perceived intolerance of Australians.
We always receive new migrants and there may be a period of concern but people adapt on both sides - my family came here 150 yrs ago from Germany and there was no prejudice during WW2. We are tolerant people and we don't want fear tactics
Restore honesty and integrity in the Public Service. Reform the the Public Service Commission to better address senior management issues rather than just act as Commission within PM&C that assists dishonest and unethical managers get away with punishing subordinate employees who stand up to management on issues of maladministration. The existing system rewards and encourages cover-ups and punishes those who stand up to senior managers or seeks to pursue valid issues they would rather suppress. Many of the scandals such as those in Immigration and DFAT/AWB would never have happened if it were not for the culture of fear in the public service. They are only the tip of the ice-berg. Changes at the top levels would be necessary to clean out the cupboards otherwise they will just continue to cover-up for their own negligence and incompetance and do so for a clean report card and lucrative performance pay based on how well they can cleanse reporting.
What I would like to see addressed by a Labour government is more fairness and equality in pay scales for public servants. Ever since workplace agreements were instituted (and Centrelink
was calved off from the public service into the CSDA) Centrelink
workers wages and conditions have been continually eroded by each agreement, in comparison to other government workers.
When Centrelink workers were employed by Dept of Social Security we were one of the leaders in pay scales for government workers.
I think from memory Tax might have been slightly ahead (or slightly
behind) compared to DSS salary scales. What a change workplace agreements have wrought (or rort):- Centrelink salary scales now lag far behind other departments like Tax, DEWR, FaCsia, etc, etc,etc.
My equivalent classification in Tax is approximately $5,000 better off per year.
And our conditions have also reduced: e.g. Tax, FaCSIA, et al have a "closedown" over the period between Xmas and New Year - Centrelink do not have that luxury. It is probably a luxury that cannot be afforded to Centrelink workers due to the disadvantaged customers that we serve - however, I see no "compensation" given to Centrelink workers by way of increased wages for this period, where other government workers are given this time gratis.
Without being too critical of other government workers, who does the government call on when there is a natural disaster (e.g. Cyclone Larry) or unnatural disaster (e.g. Bali bombing)? I don't see the government asking the ATO or DEWR to get involved in the disaster relief or putting in extra time and resources (often unpaid) to assist Australians in distress, so my point is that if Centrelink is at the forefront of delivering Australian government services (and we are at the pointy end every day) why are we at the back end of wages and conditions.
My considered opinion is that this is one reason why morale in this organisation is so low and why it is so hard to recruit new Union members.
I could go on that I believe the CPSU has not done enough to stop this situation developing
e.g. CPSU should be putting up ambit claims before bargaining starts, rather than waiting for what Centrelink wants to put on the table - but that is not the point of this message.
Please pass the contents of this message to Kevin and Julia in the hope that they can put some of
this injustice right.
Dear Kevin & Julia
Please restore integrity, honesty and professionalism to the public service. After working nearly 30 years as a health professional in State & Federal public sectors I find that under the Howard government these values and standards have been eroded substantially. I now often wonder whether I am working in the public interest or just implementing mean spirited government ideology.
Please give us dedicated and highly professional public servants hope and pride in what we do!
Also, please:
* bring justice to David Hicks
* bring Australia back from being an international "outlaw" & sign Kyoto
* make Aust. a leader in addressing CO2 emissions with solar power, clean coal technology & NO nuclear
* resource good public education for our children, incl. tertiary.
* adequately fund universities & research
Thanks and good luck
KL
A reduction in the cost of tertiary education; and get David Hicks out of G.Bay.
*would like their opinion on a return to a non-politised public service - in particular that families, communities, and indigenous people are FaCSIA's most important customers.
*a recognition that the people of australia pay our salaries
*a recognition that the government is charged with legislating while the public service administers those laws - & that there is a clear separation between these functions
*the end to AWAs being offered
*return to enterprise bargaining with the union
A few comment about industrial laws
I have no real problem with AWAs but I would like to see the secrecy around AWAs removed. Let us see what our bosses are being paid. They see what we are paid under our agreements.
Also I would like to see that if a person goes to an AWA that they have the option, if a future AWA is less attractive, to revert to the agreement in the workplace not the "basic 5".
I disagree with any type of performance pay in the Public Service. I believe it makes those receiving it focus on the end not the means. I believe it gives those receiving it a bias and makes them less impartial in their decision making because whether they do or do not get the performance pay may rest on the decision/s they make.
Post a Comment