In case you haven’t heard, Obama won the US election.
You can watch the victory speech here.
In case you haven’t heard, Obama won the US election.
You can watch the victory speech here.
In case you haven’t heard, Obama won the US election.
You can watch the victory speech here.
In case you haven’t heard, Obama won the US election.
You can watch the victory speech here.
Staff at Deakin University want a new collective agreement. The NTEU has produced a video explaining what is at stake and why staff need to join the union.
Deakin staff speak about collective bargaining from NTEU Victoria on Vimeo.
Victoria University Vice-Chancellor announced on 17 October the largest ever mass-redundancy in Australian university history.
The NTEU is running a campaign to protest the redundancies and make the university return to the bargaining table. Like Deakin, VU senior management have refused to seriously bargain.
You can support the staff at Victoria University by sending an email to the Vice Chancellor.
]]>Staff at Deakin University want a new collective agreement. The NTEU has produced a video explaining what is at stake and why staff need to join the union.
Deakin staff speak about collective bargaining from NTEU Victoria on Vimeo.
Victoria University Vice-Chancellor announced on 17 October the largest ever mass-redundancy in Australian university history.
The NTEU is running a campaign to protest the redundancies and make the university return to the bargaining table. Like Deakin, VU senior management have refused to seriously bargain.
You can support the staff at Victoria University by sending an email to the Vice Chancellor.
]]>]]>Dear NUW Member,
Two weeks ago the National Council of the NUW resolved to change the rules of the Union to establish a new centrally-controlled General Branch. This Branch would absorb all State Branches of the NUW other than NSW and Victoria.
This proposal was rejected by the NSW, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australian Branches.
Despite this rejection, the National Office of the NUW will be holding a postal ballot from October 17th to November 10th 2008 to change the rules to facilitate their plan. Ballot papers will be issued to all NUW members via mail in the near future.
The NSW, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australian Branches of the NUW rejects any attempt to take away or reduce local democratic control from any State Branch of the Union.
These Branches of the NUW strongly urge Members to vote NO in the ballot for any proposed rule change.
Any attempt to take away the control of State Branches of the NUW from the Members is wrong. We will not support any change that will disadvantage Members nor will we support any push for a centralised branch that will abolish any State Branch.
]]>Dear NUW Member,
Two weeks ago the National Council of the NUW resolved to change the rules of the Union to establish a new centrally-controlled General Branch. This Branch would absorb all State Branches of the NUW other than NSW and Victoria.
This proposal was rejected by the NSW, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australian Branches.
Despite this rejection, the National Office of the NUW will be holding a postal ballot from October 17th to November 10th 2008 to change the rules to facilitate their plan. Ballot papers will be issued to all NUW members via mail in the near future.
The NSW, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australian Branches of the NUW rejects any attempt to take away or reduce local democratic control from any State Branch of the Union.
These Branches of the NUW strongly urge Members to vote NO in the ballot for any proposed rule change.
Any attempt to take away the control of State Branches of the NUW from the Members is wrong. We will not support any change that will disadvantage Members nor will we support any push for a centralised branch that will abolish any State Branch.
Article from News.com.au and SMH.
UPDATE:
Iemma has resigned! Interesting times in the NSW Labor Party.
Any NSW comrades care to comment?
]]>Article from News.com.au and SMH.
UPDATE:
Iemma has resigned! Interesting times in the NSW Labor Party.
Any NSW comrades care to comment?
]]>
If you keep up to date with the latest tech news, you may have heard of Google Chrome, the new entry into the browser wars.
I’ve just started to trial it, and must say that I’m impressed. There are a few features that really appeal, like the “most visited” new tab page. When it leaves beta, and starts to get a few plug ins (like Adblock), I’ll probably use it more permanently.
Some commentary:
Why Google Chrome? Fast Browsing = $$$
UPDATE
Something I haven’t noticed for a while is internet ads. This is because I use the Firefox plugin Ad Block. I am amazed at how many websites have advertising - it’s like a plague.
If you keep up to date with the latest tech news, you may have heard of Google Chrome, the new entry into the browser wars.
I’ve just started to trial it, and must say that I’m impressed. There are a few features that really appeal, like the “most visited” new tab page. When it leaves beta, and starts to get a few plug ins (like Adblock), I’ll probably use it more permanently.
Some commentary:
Why Google Chrome? Fast Browsing = $$$
UPDATE
Something I haven’t noticed for a while is internet ads. This is because I use the Firefox plugin Ad Block. I am amazed at how many websites have advertising - it’s like a plague.
Stand Up! from Stand Up on Vimeo.
As an earlier campaign manager for the Stand Up ticket, this year’s campaign has the appearance of being top notch.
I wish the ticket well, and hope that the rest of their campaign is as slick as the website.
(Note: This election comment is published by A White 132418.)
]]>
Stand Up! from Stand Up on Vimeo.
As an earlier campaign manager for the Stand Up ticket, this year’s campaign has the appearance of being top notch.
I wish the ticket well, and hope that the rest of their campaign is as slick as the website.
(Note: This election comment is published by A White 132418.)
]]>Mr Iemma is standing firm in the belief his party has no alternative to him. But senior ALP figures were adamant: “We will find one.”
In my view, Iemma is seriously compromised and will not be able to win the next election.
Can comrades in NSW comment on how it looks north of the border?
]]>Mr Iemma is standing firm in the belief his party has no alternative to him. But senior ALP figures were adamant: “We will find one.”
In my view, Iemma is seriously compromised and will not be able to win the next election.
Can comrades in NSW comment on how it looks north of the border?
]]>Within Opposition ranks it has firmed the opinion that Rudd is intent on going to an election at the end of next year.
The evidence, apart from Gartrell’s enthusiasm for getting on with the job, is compelling. First, there’s history: every initially victorious Prime Minister in the modern era from Hawke (subsequent election 1984) and Howard (1998) sought to cement their incumbency by going to the polls within two years.
Second, economic uncertainty. Given the external pressures of the rolling subprime crisis, who knows what will happen electorally or economically? For Gartrell and Rudd, and Labor generally, the message has to be, while you’re ahead, go now.
Third, there’s WorkChoices. The obvious potency of this issue at the last election says go early while the electorate’s hurt and resentment towards the Coalition is still red raw.
Fourth: Opposition leadership. The dynamics of the Liberals’ internal leadership tensions are likely to be at their fruit-bearing peak at the end of 2009.
To get to the bottom of all this, I could call Julie Collins and ask what Tim Gartrell said last Monday. But I haven’t bothered.
Amazing - Glen Milne could have inquired with Labor about the committee meeting - you know, to get his facts straight, or at least do that “getting both sides of the story” thing that journalists are supposed to do. But he didn’t bother.
He also wrote in a separate article:
THE powerful Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) is poised to flex its industrial muscle after a successful meeting with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd at The Lodge in Canberra on Australia Day.
A leaked union strategy document marked “confidential” reveals the MUA believes it has “strong support” from Mr Rudd and plans to push for new industrial relations arrangements that will drive up inflation.
The union wants a return to “pattern bargaining”, a technique to negotiate increased wages and conditions. However, opponents of pattern bargaining say it would also increase inflation and interest rates.
Amazing. Glen passed off as fact that the MUA’s industrial relations arrangements will drive up inflation, but we find out in the next paragraph that opponents of the MUA’s industrial policies are the ones that believe that. What happened to the neutral point of view that journalists were supposed to have?
Oh… that’s right. We’re talking about Glen Milne.
]]>Within Opposition ranks it has firmed the opinion that Rudd is intent on going to an election at the end of next year.
The evidence, apart from Gartrell’s enthusiasm for getting on with the job, is compelling. First, there’s history: every initially victorious Prime Minister in the modern era from Hawke (subsequent election 1984) and Howard (1998) sought to cement their incumbency by going to the polls within two years.
Second, economic uncertainty. Given the external pressures of the rolling subprime crisis, who knows what will happen electorally or economically? For Gartrell and Rudd, and Labor generally, the message has to be, while you’re ahead, go now.
Third, there’s WorkChoices. The obvious potency of this issue at the last election says go early while the electorate’s hurt and resentment towards the Coalition is still red raw.
Fourth: Opposition leadership. The dynamics of the Liberals’ internal leadership tensions are likely to be at their fruit-bearing peak at the end of 2009.
To get to the bottom of all this, I could call Julie Collins and ask what Tim Gartrell said last Monday. But I haven’t bothered.
Amazing - Glen Milne could have inquired with Labor about the committee meeting - you know, to get his facts straight, or at least do that “getting both sides of the story” thing that journalists are supposed to do. But he didn’t bother.
He also wrote in a separate article:
THE powerful Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) is poised to flex its industrial muscle after a successful meeting with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd at The Lodge in Canberra on Australia Day.
A leaked union strategy document marked “confidential” reveals the MUA believes it has “strong support” from Mr Rudd and plans to push for new industrial relations arrangements that will drive up inflation.
The union wants a return to “pattern bargaining”, a technique to negotiate increased wages and conditions. However, opponents of pattern bargaining say it would also increase inflation and interest rates.
Amazing. Glen passed off as fact that the MUA’s industrial relations arrangements will drive up inflation, but we find out in the next paragraph that opponents of the MUA’s industrial policies are the ones that believe that. What happened to the neutral point of view that journalists were supposed to have?
Oh… that’s right. We’re talking about Glen Milne.
]]>Labor has been given a clear mandate by the Australian people based on specific promises and this will be the basis on which they will be judged at the next election.
Labor has set high expectations, and voters will expect the new Government to live up to them. They made very specific promises to prevent grocery prices going up, to prevent petrol prices going up and to prevent interest rates from going up. Our research shows the Australian people are watching carefully to see whether Labor’s promises are just more spin or whether they can deliver. The Coalition intends to hold Labor to the standards it set itself. Mr Rudd declared the buck stops with him – it will not be good enough or acceptable to the Australian people for Labor to try and blame the previous Government when times get tough. The Australian people have given Labor a go based on very specific promises and they expect them to be delivered. (Emphasis added)
Incredible really. The Libs are trying to say that the ALP made the same mistake this election as the Libs did in 2004.
]]>Labor has been given a clear mandate by the Australian people based on specific promises and this will be the basis on which they will be judged at the next election.
Labor has set high expectations, and voters will expect the new Government to live up to them. They made very specific promises to prevent grocery prices going up, to prevent petrol prices going up and to prevent interest rates from going up. Our research shows the Australian people are watching carefully to see whether Labor’s promises are just more spin or whether they can deliver. The Coalition intends to hold Labor to the standards it set itself. Mr Rudd declared the buck stops with him – it will not be good enough or acceptable to the Australian people for Labor to try and blame the previous Government when times get tough. The Australian people have given Labor a go based on very specific promises and they expect them to be delivered. (Emphasis added)
Incredible really. The Libs are trying to say that the ALP made the same mistake this election as the Libs did in 2004.
]]>In other news:
Mr Evans said the source had told him former prime minister John Howard had “desperately” wanted to leave politics four months ago.
“He was coaxed to stay on board, while the feeling for the past few months has been that Costello had alienated himself from the core constituency of Liberal voters,” Mr Evans said.
He said the source told him Mr Costello had been found to have been particularly unpopular with with older voters – those in the 35-60 age group.
Update:
Recriminations begin:
]]>Senator Macdonald says he respects Mr Howard but he should have gone a year ago.
“It’s a tragic way for such an able, committed man and someone who’s been so good for Australia to leave,” he said.
“I think it would have been different had Peter Costello been leading the party for 12 months.”
He says the cabinet ministers should have that ensured Mr Howard went earlier.
“I’m very confident the Coalition would have won had Peter Costello been leading the party,” he said.
“I’m a little disappointed with some of our senior colleagues who didn’t have these discussions earlier in the piece.
In other news:
Mr Evans said the source had told him former prime minister John Howard had “desperately” wanted to leave politics four months ago.
“He was coaxed to stay on board, while the feeling for the past few months has been that Costello had alienated himself from the core constituency of Liberal voters,” Mr Evans said.
He said the source told him Mr Costello had been found to have been particularly unpopular with with older voters – those in the 35-60 age group.
Update:
Recriminations begin:
]]>Senator Macdonald says he respects Mr Howard but he should have gone a year ago.
“It’s a tragic way for such an able, committed man and someone who’s been so good for Australia to leave,” he said.
“I think it would have been different had Peter Costello been leading the party for 12 months.”
He says the cabinet ministers should have that ensured Mr Howard went earlier.
“I’m very confident the Coalition would have won had Peter Costello been leading the party,” he said.
“I’m a little disappointed with some of our senior colleagues who didn’t have these discussions earlier in the piece.
]]>
]]>Two marginal seats in which the ALP appears to be facing a particularly tough battle are the seats of Deakin in Victoria, and Boothby in South Australia. Both these seats are held by members of the Liberal class of ‘96 and (according to the betting markets) are holding up well in their respective fights for re-election.
The pendulum puts Bennelong as the final seat needed for Labor to win. The two seats noted by Barendse as “encouraging” in so far as the seat by seat odds go, are both past the 4.1% swing needed by Labor to win (Deakin at 5.0% and Boothby at 5.4%).
Even if Labor didn’t win Deakin and Boothby (but was in the range of 5% or so), it could still pick up McMillan and Corangamite.
I’m sure I also don’t need to remind Barendse that the amounts being bet on the seat by seats markets is almost negligible. It’ll be much closer to 24 Nov before real money is bet on individuals seats to make the odds relevant.
As Unleashed commenter William says:
]]>“Unleashed” has promised us satire as well as commentary. I can only presume that this is satire…
Two marginal seats in which the ALP appears to be facing a particularly tough battle are the seats of Deakin in Victoria, and Boothby in South Australia. Both these seats are held by members of the Liberal class of ‘96 and (according to the betting markets) are holding up well in their respective fights for re-election.
The pendulum puts Bennelong as the final seat needed for Labor to win. The two seats noted by Barendse as “encouraging” in so far as the seat by seat odds go, are both past the 4.1% swing needed by Labor to win (Deakin at 5.0% and Boothby at 5.4%).
Even if Labor didn’t win Deakin and Boothby (but was in the range of 5% or so), it could still pick up McMillan and Corangamite.
I’m sure I also don’t need to remind Barendse that the amounts being bet on the seat by seats markets is almost negligible. It’ll be much closer to 24 Nov before real money is bet on individuals seats to make the odds relevant.
As Unleashed commenter William says:
]]>“Unleashed” has promised us satire as well as commentary. I can only presume that this is satire…
BILLIONAIRE retailer Gerry Harvey says Australia needs a two-tier wage system to allow employers to pay foreign guest workers less than locals.
The Harvey Norman boss said Australia’s prosperity was creating a labour shortage and endangering the nation’s competitiveness.
He said a growing number of Australian manufacturers were moving overseas, where cheap labour was plentiful.
He called on the Federal Government to allow foreign workers on fixed visas to form a second tier to the labour market.
“Australia doesn’t have cheap labour. Many overseas workers would be prepared to move here for a much better life and half the money Australians earn,” he said.
“When you get unemployment down to four per cent, to three per cent, to two per cent, business can’t get the labour.
“I’ve got horse studs and it’s difficult to get staff.
“Workers would rather work in the mines where they get paid twice as much.
“Fruit- picking companies are relying on backpackers.”
I’m sure we all feel sorry for Gerry and his understaffed horse-studs.
]]>BILLIONAIRE retailer Gerry Harvey says Australia needs a two-tier wage system to allow employers to pay foreign guest workers less than locals.
The Harvey Norman boss said Australia’s prosperity was creating a labour shortage and endangering the nation’s competitiveness.
He said a growing number of Australian manufacturers were moving overseas, where cheap labour was plentiful.
He called on the Federal Government to allow foreign workers on fixed visas to form a second tier to the labour market.
“Australia doesn’t have cheap labour. Many overseas workers would be prepared to move here for a much better life and half the money Australians earn,” he said.
“When you get unemployment down to four per cent, to three per cent, to two per cent, business can’t get the labour.
“I’ve got horse studs and it’s difficult to get staff.
“Workers would rather work in the mines where they get paid twice as much.
“Fruit- picking companies are relying on backpackers.”
I’m sure we all feel sorry for Gerry and his understaffed horse-studs.
]]>While this is good politics, it is bad policy and bad economics.
]]>Senior economist with HSBC, John Edwards, says the tax cuts would put upward pressure on inflation.
“It certainly means interest rates would be higher than they would otherwise be,” he said.
“I cannot imagine were it not for an election the Treasurer would be contemplating these tax cuts of this order.
While this is good politics, it is bad policy and bad economics.
]]>Senior economist with HSBC, John Edwards, says the tax cuts would put upward pressure on inflation.
“It certainly means interest rates would be higher than they would otherwise be,” he said.
“I cannot imagine were it not for an election the Treasurer would be contemplating these tax cuts of this order.