The Governments industrial relations changes in combination with welfare changes are not about choice and productivity; they are designed to exploit vulnerable members of Australian society, in exchange for greater company profit.
"The Government has publicly admitted that the young, unskilled and those with little choice will have to take low paid, inflexible jobs, to get a foot in the door," said Australian Democrats Leader, Senator Lyn Allison. "What is this if it is not exploitation?"
"The Government argues that 4 out of 10 workers move on to other jobs. What about the other 60% who are trapped in a vicious cycle of low paid unskilled work, that provides no training, no security, and no flexibility to balance family needs?
"In reality the Government is encouraging and facilitating business to take advantage of those in a poor position to bargain for legitimate rights and conditions."
"Productivity can be achieved in other way. Why exploit workers; why go down the path that will destroy our fair go society?"
"The Government also argues that there is no need for a comprehensive inquiry into the changes because parliament has examined many of the issues before. This is plainly wrong."
"It is the first time in the history of the federation that we are faced with a hostile takeover by the Commonwealth of state systems. And it is the first time the parliament will look at unfair dismissal, secret ballots, right of entry, cooling-off periods, etc in terms of how they apply in state systems and the consequences for business in state sectors."
"The legislation proposes fundamental changes and will be more complex and convoluted than the previous legislation.
"If the Government thinks they have it right then they should not be afraid of parliamentary and public scrutiny," concluded Senator Allison.
|
