Election

[silentC]

He's already subtly dropped one: there will be no department of home land security.

[AlexS]

Has Phil ruddock truely been kidnaped by the taliban?
Or is he so busy shredding stuff he cant take a tea break on his workchoices award.

One can only hope!
This useless waste of space is supposed to be my local member. Didn't see him before the elections, won't see him after.

He'll collect his fat salary for being an unornamental paperweight.

[astrid]

OH and i forgot the other Kev, wheres he?
checking his mobile phone records?

I may mixed up, but I think hes (Reith) enjoying the benefits of scuttling the republic.
and Amanda is trying to communicate in mandarin to the Italians.
actually I'll go a bit easier on Amanda, having to clean up after Ruddock was a bit like my housework, It keeps on comming.


Astrid

[Ashore]

As have the ACTU V Hardy and you still havent acknowledged that.

You bought this up late in the discussion in a vane attempt to cloud the issue, yes the actions of the ACTU v Hardey were good just as the work carried out by other unions and indivudials againt hardy was good , Hardies were criminal in trying to get away with what they did and the lies they told knowing full well the dangers and harm their products were causing , I worked in an industry that used a lot of asbestos , and have lost 3 mates I sailed with to it, we wern't told of the dangers by Hardies or the Ship owners who in some cases were aware of the dangers. my union along with other maratime unions made the ship owners set up a fund to cover medical tests costs etc and this was a flow on from the actions of the ACTU s work.

Lighten up, we all know the skallywags regarded it as a bit of a game with the bosses.
Its part of our graet Australian culture

This is where we are fundermentally diffrent , I do not condone steeling , was brought up differently to that and being a thief is not part of my culture.
I can assure the bosses on the waterfront did not reguard it as a game, nor did the owners of goods stolen from containers

And Astrid I will leave this discussion on unions by saying I do not disagree with you about the great things some unions have achieved in the past , our present culture , lifestyle etc has been infulenced by union actions, as it has been by past politions , buissness men and women , inventers , the climate, geographical location , migrants, etc etc it all adds to who we are the unions are part of this but not the only or best part just another part.

[astrid]

Ashore
If you read my posts with a different mindset, no I didnt

and of course they wouldnt' that was the "game"
like stealing wheelbarrows and we all know that story.
think its time to stop the Union stuff as its off topic, goes nowhere.
If you want to continue this then I suggest you start a separate thread and I'll see you there.

Astrid

[Studley 2436]

ok you union bashing bums,
what about keeping a balanced discussion,
do some picking on the bum employers as well

Sheeze mate I don't think I have engaged in any mud slinging at all. I did say that the unions had a priveledged position under the law and this is true. The former Liberal government should have kept it's reform of AWA's to saying that employees had the right to negotiate with their employer without any third party having any say so over the agreement. There should also have been the right for an employee to seek independent advice from a Union or other group or individual and the right to have that third party assist the negotiation should they be invited. I would have kept the Award System as a type of fallback or low level mark if you like. You've heard about not scaring the horses? Awards have been part of the industrial landscape for how long? So make changes (and they are needed) one by one and give people time to adjust to them. Smart policy in my mind.

I don't think the Unions could complain about that, well they would but really it is just saying they have to operate under market rules like the rest of us.

Studley

[Waldo]

I don't think the Unions could complain about that,

Except they'd cry foul with less fees coming in. That in my mind is about the only reason they fight to exist.

[astrid]

as i said before,
I think we need a new thread for this topic.
this one is about the election generally which believe it or not has more to it than Unions.
See you there
Astrid

[astrid]

So back on the election
so who is going to be leader of the opposition
Where are ruddock and andrews?
will julia crash in flames as so many other women on both sides have?
will peter garratts self promotion turn and bite (see Im not totally biased)
lets hear it
Astrid

[Lignum]

So back on the election
so who is going to be leader of the opposition

Think you should have turned the radio on 5 hours ago Astrid

[astrid]

yes liggy,
sowho is it?
beena bit busy redirecting the angst and i only listen to abc Fm in the morning on the way to work.
Mel

[Wood Butcher]

Brendan Nelson got the oppostition leadership with Julie Bishop as deputy

[Brickie]

Brendan Nelson got the oppostition leadership with Julie Bishop as deputy

More follow the leader, looks like we are due for a female PM one way or the other...

[Groggy]

There is more to Nelson than most realise. I heard him speak at an industry conference and he did not appear to get a single detail wrong. Given the topics involved he went up in my estimation a few hundred percent. Very impressive performance, without notes, for well over an hour. He didn't only have the facts, he knew how they related to each other.

Another one I have been impressed with is Bill Shorten. I listened to him on the ABC while on a long drive one evening. Sensible fellow, and one sorely needed by the ALP.

EDIT: The Shorten interview is about 10 minutes into the segment but well worth listening to.

[Rossluck]

There is more to Nelson than most realise. I heard him speak at an industry conference and he did not appear to get a single detail wrong. Given the topics involved he went up in my estimation a few hundred percent. Very impressive performance, without notes, for well over an hour. He didn't only have the facts, he knew how they related to each other.

Another one I have been impressed with is Bill Shorten. I listened to him on the ABC while on a long drive one evening. Sensible fellow, and one sorely needed by the ALP.

I agree. I just listened to Nelson on the 7:30 Report. He's no idiot. It's funny, I always watch Question Time and I haven't taken much notice of him.