DOCSLIB.ORG

Hansard 1 June 2000

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

1 Jun 2000 Legislative Assembly 1507 THURSDAY, 1 JUNE 2000 are fewer than three flagpoles, it should not replace either of these flags." I trust that this answers the honourable member and others who object to the flying of Mr SPEAKER (Hon. R. K. Hollis, Redcliffe) the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags. read prayers and took the chair at 9.30 a.m. PETITIONS FLYING OF ABORIGINAL FLAG AT PARLIAMENT HOUSE The Clerk announced the receipt of the following petitions— Mr SPEAKER: Order! I have received the following letter from the honourable member for Western Downs. It reads— Police and Corrective Services Portfolio "Dear Mr Speaker From Mrs Liz Cunningham (270 It has come to my attention that you petitioners) requesting the House to separate have instructed that the Aboriginal Flag is the Government Ministries of Police and to be flown from the flagpoles within the Corrective Services precincts of Parliament House. I can only presume you believe this gesture will David Low Way assist reconciliation. From Mr Davidson (372 petitioners) I write to express my fear that this requesting the House to instruct the Minister decision may, in fact, be for Transport to reduce the speed limit along counterproductive. David Low Way through South Peregian I firmly believe many people support Beach from the present 80 km/h to the 60 reconciliation, but their support is in km/h limit which already applies north through danger of being replaced by Peregian Beach and Marcus Beach.. resentment—a resentment of actions they find offensive and/or unacceptable. I believe your decision to fly the Aboriginal Inspector M. Churchill; Sergeant C. Sidey Flag at Parliament House is just such an From Dr Kingston (1,183 petitioners) action. requesting the House to strongly oppose the I respectfully request you reconsider forced transfers of Inspector Mal Churchill and your decision." Sergeant Chris Sidey for the alleged lack of professionalism. I therefore bring to the attention of the House correspondence forwarded to my office Petitions received. from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet headed "National Reconciliation PAPER Week—27 May 2000 to 3 June 2000". In part that correspondence reads— MINISTERIAL PAPER "For the past two years it has been The following paper was tabled— the practice to mark National Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Reconciliation Week through the flying of Minister for The Arts (Mr Foley)— the Aboriginal flag and the Torres Strait Islander flag. Ministerial response to Report No. 19, dated 19 March 2000, of the Legal ... agencies are advised that the Constitutional and Administrative Review Aboriginal flag and the Torres Strait Committee entitled "Implications of the Islander flag may be flown with the new Commonwealth enrolment Australian national flag to acknowledge requirements". National Reconciliation Week." This accompanied advice from the Queensland Government's Protocol Branch SUSPENSION OF MEMBERS instructing that the flags be flown in Hon. T. M. MACKENROTH (Chatsworth— accordance with the NAIDOC Week policy. ALP) (Leader of the House) (9.34 a.m.): I That advice reads in part— move— "... the Aboriginal Flag may be flown ... in "That the House notes Report No. 41 combination with the Australian and of the Members' Ethics and Parliamentary Queensland Flags. However, where there Privileges Committee and resolves— 1508 Suspension of Members 1 Jun 2000 (a) that Mr Shaun Nelson MLA, member ago. They said to me, "Shaun, we accept that for Tablelands and Mrs Dorothy Pratt there are global markets. We accept that there MLA, member for Barambah is change. We accept that we are not a part of committed a contempt of the the rationale any more. We accept that Parliament by engaging in disorderly National Competition Policy is happening." and disrespectful conduct in the Recently in Mareeba I attended a precincts of the Parliament while it meeting which the Deputy Prime Minister also was in session and behaving in a attended. He came up and tried to speak to manner not befitting members of growers in Mareeba. I think I was the only Parliament; member of this Parliament at that meeting. (b) that both members be suspended About 600 growers attended to vent their from the services and the precincts of anger at the Deputy Prime Minister. The the House for 28 days; and speech made by the member for Crows Nest last night was in direct and stark contrast to the (c) that the House discharge Mr Shaun speech made by the Deputy Prime Minister in Nelson MLA, Member for Tablelands Mareeba. It was like listening to people from from membership of the Members' two separate parties. It is absolutely amazing. Ethics and Parliamentary Privileges It shows me at least one thing—I suppose I Committee." have learned this in the last couple of months Hon. D. J. HAMILL (Ipswich—ALP) more than ever before—and that is that politics (Treasurer) (9.34 a.m.): I formally second the is not so much about what you do; it is about motion moved by the Leader of the House. what you say. A lot of members of this House Mr NELSON (Tablelands—IND) will do one thing and say another. (9.35 a.m.): I will take a moment to speak to Regardless of what happens here today, this motion. I would like to explain a few things. regardless of what has been said in the media When I wake up in the morning and look out and regardless of what will be said in the my bedroom window, I look straight out on to a media, it is my profound wish that every other dairy farm and a dairy shed. I was born here in member of this Parliament would do exactly Brisbane but very soon afterwards moved out the same thing for their constituents if the into rural Queensland. I lived in towns such as need arose. Other members of this Parliament Chinchilla and Malanda. have done similar things—maybe not exactly the same thing. I have the utmost respect for Another member of this Parliament also any members of Parliament who are willing to lived on the Atherton Tableland. He lived in the town of Atherton and he would certainly know put their heads on the chopping block for their the town of Malanda quite well. I am sure that constituents. It should probably happen a lot deep down, in his heart of hearts, that other more, regardless of the manner in which it is member of this Parliament, regardless of his done. Yes, as the Leader of the Opposition politics, would understand exactly why I did said, we are elected to this House to debate what I did yesterday. I am sure that he knows the issue, but when the issue is beyond exactly what is on the main street of debate, when the issue is sunk and finished, Malanda—a gigantic milk factory. That milk we must do whatever we possibly can to get factory is the centre of the town and it provides the message across. employment for about 135 people. It provides When that protest was under way at the an outlet for about 196 dairy farmers. front of Parliament House, the Premier refused point blank to come out and speak to the I have been a member of Parliament for protesters. Yes, he accepted a delegation, but only two years, but I have been interested in there were a thousand-odd people out there politics for quite some time. One of the who had come a long way to see the Premier. reasons I got into politics was to try to make a They would have given him a hearing. They change, to try to do something good and try to were quiet when other members of Parliament represent people who, as far as I am got up and spoke. They would have let the concerned, had gone without representation Premier speak. It hurt me personally to think for quite some time—including me. that the Leader of this State—he has said on I understand why some members of the numerous occasions in this Chamber that he is House do not want to hear what I have to say, the leader for all Queenslanders—would not and that is fair enough. Ultimately, I do not come out and speak to the protesters. That is really care what happens to me. That is not my all they wanted. They wanted to hear from the concern. My concern is about what will happen Premier. They know that deregulation is to the 60-odd people I sat down and had tea inevitable. They know that Queensland is and coffee with not more than a few months probably very ill-equipped to stand up against 1 Jun 2000 Suspension of Members 1509 the Victorians and stand up against the respect the fact that you have a go—no matter Federal Parliament, and they realise that we what, that you have a go. live in a federation and that we cannot stop I realise that the Dairy Deregulation cross-border trade. But at the very least, the Implementation Bill will be debated while I am Premier of this State—the Leader of this not here, and I realise that the punishment State—could have gone out and spoken to was set to fit that, but the simple fact is that I them. The main reason I did what I did the have made my stand. I have said more with other day was because that was not going to my protest than I could say in a thousand happen, and I knew that was not going to words in a debate.
Recommended publications
  • National Policy Implementation in Queensland

    National Policy Implementation in Queensland

    National Policy Implementation in Queensland: the Politics of National Competition Policy in the 1990s. Thesis re-submitted by Brett Heyward in July 2004 for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Political Science Discipline School of Humanities James Cook University i STATEMENT OF ACCESS I, the undersigned, author of this work, understand that James Cook University will make this thesis available for use within the University Library and, via the Australian Digital Theses network, for use elsewhere. I understand that, as an unpublished work, a thesis has significant protection under the Copyright Act and; I do not wish to place any further restriction on access to this work. _________________________ ______________ Signature Date ELECTRONIC COPY I, the undersigned, the author of this work, declare that the electronic copy of this thesis provided to the James Cook University Library is an accurate copy of the print thesis submitted, within the limits of the technology available. _________________________ ______________ Signature Date Declaration I declare that this thesis is my own work and has not been submitted in any form for another degree or diploma at any university or other institution of tertiary education. In formation derived from the published work of others has been acknowledged in the text and a list of references given. …………………………………… ……………… (Date) x Table of Contents Page Abstract iv List of Tables vi List of Figures vii Abbreviations viii Chapter One - Introduction 1 Chapter Two – The Policy Environment 64 Chapter Three – The changing context of NCP Implementation in 117 Queensland Chapter Four – The National Competition Council and the 169 implementation of NCP Chapter Five – Case Study Examples 218 Chapter Six – Key Findings and Conclusion 296 Bibliography 332 Appendices Appendix 1 – Analysis of arguments presented by John 345 Quiggin ii Abstract This is a thesis that focuses on the implementation of a national policy platform – the National Competition Policy – by the Queensland Government.
  • Dmg Radio Australia

    Dmg Radio Australia

    DMG RADIO AUSTRALIA PARLIAMENT OF AUSTRALIA House Committee on Communications, Transport and the Arts Radio Industry Inquiry APPENDIX 1 Selection Of Newspapers And Commercial Radio Stations Owned And Operated By DMG Group In Non-Metropolitan Areas Around The World Newspapers The Bath Chronicle Bristol Evening Post Herald Express Grimsby Evening Telegraph Scunthorpe Evening Telegraph Hull Daily Mail Lincolnshire Echo Gloucestershire Echo Evening Telegraph Evening Express Evening Post The Citizen Leicester Mercury The Sentinel South Wales Evening Post Express & Echo Western Daily Press Evening Herald Western Morning News Press and Journal Carmarthen Journal Cornish Guardian Essex Chronicle The Mid Devon Gazette Wellington Weekly News Courier East Grinstad Courier Seven Oaks Chronicle Llanelli Star MEL_CORP/0373400.01 North Devon Journal Retford Times The Cornishman Brentwood Gazette The West Briton Aberdeen Herald & Post Ashby & Coalville Mail Belper Express Beverley Advertiser Boston Target Carmarthen Herald Cheltenham News Derby Express Exeter Leader Gainsborough Target Gloucester News Grimsby Target Haltemprice Target Hansfield & Ashfield Reporter Holderness Advertiser Horncastle, Woodfall Spa and Conningsby Target Hull Advertiser West Hull (North) Advertiser East Hull Advertiser East Hull (South) Advertiser West Hull (South) Advertiser Ilkeston Express Leicester Mail Loughborough Mail Louth Target Mansfield Weekly Post & Reporter Neath & Port Talbot Shopper Newton Abbot Weekender North Staffs Advertiser Nottingham Recorder Plymouth Extra Scunthorpe Target Seven Oaks NIF Sleaford Target South Lincolnshire Target Series Spilsby & Skegness Target Swansea Herald of Wales Tewkesbury News Torbay Weekender Tunbridge Wells NIF These regional and rural newspapers have a combined circulation of more than 4.05 million copies. This means that one in seven of the adult population reads one of our newspapers throughout the whole of regional and rural United Kingdom.
  • Senator Claire Moore

    Senator Claire Moore

    Senator Claire Moore WEEKLY UPDATE: 1st June, 2018 Phone: (07) 3252 7101; email: [email protected]; Web:www.clairemoore.net; Twitter: www.twitter.com/SenClaireMoore; www.facebook.com/SenatorClaireMoore; ***** Labor’s National Conference will now be held in Adelaide from Sun 16 Dec to Tue 18 December. **** THIS WEEK: Apart for yet another implosion of One Nation this week, the main focus in Canberra has been on the changes the Government has proposed to the Family Court and the process of Senate Estimates. Labor welcomes the Government’s acknowledgement of the crisis in the family court system, and the pain it is causing families caught up in it. This situation has been going for far too long, and has worsened on the Government’s watch. Reform is needed but already serious concerns have been expressed as to some of the potential consequences of what the Government is proposing. This is especially the case in regard to the removal of the Appeals Division of the Family Court – which means that the toughest and most complex family law cases will no longer be heard by specialists. At the moment we have a lack of detail and will examines the legislation closely when it is made available. Estimates are a vital part of our parliamentary process and our democracy. They provide the opportunity for Senators to examine the performance of the Departments and Agencies. It allows us to scrutinise policy, programs and performance. Such scrutiny is very healthy for our political and administrative processes. It invariably provides many illuminating insights into the management of our government and it’s not, as this week’s Update will attest, – all good news.
  • What Will a Labor Government Mean for Defence Industry in Australia?

    What Will a Labor Government Mean for Defence Industry in Australia?

    What will a Labor Government mean for Defence Industry in Australia? Hon Greg Combet AM Opinion polls suggest a change of government in the Australian Federal election in (expected) May 2019. An incoming Labor Government led by Bill Shorten will likely feature Richard Marles as Minister for Defence and Mike Kelly as Assisting Minister for Defence Industry and Support. Jason Clare, a former Minister for Defence Matériel, would likely have influence upon the defence industry portfolio in his potential role as Minister for Trade and Investment. Under a Labor Government, it is possible Shorten would appoint a new Minister for Defence Matériel (as has been an established practice for many years) given the magnitude of expenditure and complexity of the portfolio. Shorten and Marles have been associates since university and have been closely aligned during their trade union and political careers. With extensive practical experience of the Australian industry, Shorten and Marles have a record of working constructively with business leadership. Both have a sound understanding of the role and the significance of defence industry in Australia. Marles, in particular, has a greater interest in national security and strategic issues and would likely concentrate on these in the portfolio and delegate aspects of defence industry to a ministerial colleague. Labor’s defence industry policy was reviewed and adopted during the December 2018 Party National Conference. The policy is consistent with Labor’s approach when it was last in government, reiterating support for: • an Australian defence industry that provides the Australian Defence Force with the necessary capabilities; • sovereign industrial capability where required, specifically identifying naval shipbuilding; • an export focus; • the maximisation of the participation of small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) in defence projects; and • initiatives to develop workforce skills.
  • Hansart Interpreting Hansard Records

    Hansart Interpreting Hansard Records

    HansART Interpreting Hansard Records THE ENVIRONMENT The following excerpts are taken directly from the Parliament of Australia Hansard records and have not been altered. In using Hansard, please be aware that the standardised style may have changed over time. 1 JOHN HOWARD MP, 1997 MINISTERIAL STATEMENT ON CLIMATE CHANGE Source: Parliament of Australia Since its election the government has addressed the critical issue of global warming in a way that effectively promotes Australia’s national interests. Those interests lie in both protecting Australian jobs and Australian industry whilst ensuring that Australia plays her part in the worldwide effort needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. From the start, we have made it plain that Australia would not accept an unfair share of the burden. We have rejected and will continue to reject mandatory uniform targets which advantage many developed countries to the distinct disadvantage of Australia. We have also made it plain that we are not prepared to see Australian jobs sacrificed and efficient Australian industries, particularly in the resources sector, robbed of their hard-earned, competitive advantage. Moreover, we have persistently stressed the need to involve developing countries as their participation is crucial to any lasting solution to the global warming problem. These principles have guided our approach to the greenhouse gas issue. 2 PETER MCGAURAN MP, 1997, RESPONSE TO A QUESTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE Source: Parliament of Australia I thank the member for Hinkler for his question. Representing, as he does, the city of Gladstone, he has a vital interest in all matters greenhouse. There is a great deal of misinformation and at times hysteria, often deliberately manufactured, about the issue of climate change.
  • The Foreign Minister Who Never Was

    The Foreign Minister Who Never Was

    The foreign minister who never was BY:DENNIS SHANAHAN, POLITICAL EDITOR The Australian March 02, 2012 12:00AM Cartoon by Peter Nicholson. Source: The Australian JULIA Gillard's ability to turn good news - a brilliant political strategy, a poignant moment, or an opportunity to become strong, credible and assertive - into bad news and dumb politics appears to be boundless. And, when the Prime Minister has a brain snap, makes an error of judgment or gets into trouble for a reflexive and ill-considered denial the finger is pointed towards staff, speech writers, the hate media, Tony Abbott, or most of all, Kevin Rudd. The mistakes she's admitted are those where she neglected to publicly apportion blame to Rudd as a dysfunctional, pathological leader, and this being the reason for her taking over as prime minister in June 2010. On Monday morning, after three politically debilitating months of unforced errors, media disasters and a destabilising campaign to gather support for a Rudd leadership challenge, Gillard was finally in the clear. After a brilliant political strategy to force Rudd's hand early, at least two weeks before he was prepared to go, Gillard was able to crush him in the Labor caucus ballot 71 to 31 votes. Although there was a strong element of voting against Rudd rather than for Gillard in the ballot, it saw off Rudd's chances for this parliamentary term at least and gave Labor a chance to regather its thoughts and try to redeem a seemingly hopeless position. Gillard set out her intentions, addressing the public: "I can assure you that this political drama is over and now you are back at centre stage where you should properly be and you will be the focus of all of our efforts." On the issue of reshuffling her ministry and whether she would be punishing Rudd supporters, Gillard declared: "My focus will be on having a team based on merit and the ability to take the fight up on behalf of Labor to our conservative opponents.
  • Ministerial Careers and Accountability in the Australian Commonwealth Government / Edited by Keith Dowding and Chris Lewis

    Ministerial Careers and Accountability in the Australian Commonwealth Government / Edited by Keith Dowding and Chris Lewis

    AND MINISTERIAL CAREERS ACCOUNTABILITYIN THE AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH GOVERNMENT AND MINISTERIAL CAREERS ACCOUNTABILITYIN THE AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH GOVERNMENT Edited by Keith Dowding and Chris Lewis Published by ANU E Press The Australian National University Canberra ACT 0200, Australia Email: [email protected] This title is also available online at http://epress.anu.edu.au National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry Title: Ministerial careers and accountability in the Australian Commonwealth government / edited by Keith Dowding and Chris Lewis. ISBN: 9781922144003 (pbk.) 9781922144010 (ebook) Series: ANZSOG series Notes: Includes bibliographical references. Subjects: Politicians--Australia. Politicians--Australia--Ethical behavior. Political ethics--Australia. Politicians--Australia--Public opinion. Australia--Politics and government. Australia--Politics and government--Public opinion. Other Authors/Contributors: Dowding, Keith M. Lewis, Chris. Dewey Number: 324.220994 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher. Cover design and layout by ANU E Press Printed by Griffin Press This edition © 2012 ANU E Press Contents 1. Hiring, Firing, Roles and Responsibilities. 1 Keith Dowding and Chris Lewis 2. Ministers as Ministries and the Logic of their Collective Action . 15 John Wanna 3. Predicting Cabinet Ministers: A psychological approach ..... 35 Michael Dalvean 4. Democratic Ambivalence? Ministerial attitudes to party and parliamentary scrutiny ........................... 67 James Walter 5. Ministerial Accountability to Parliament ................ 95 Phil Larkin 6. The Pattern of Forced Exits from the Ministry ........... 115 Keith Dowding, Chris Lewis and Adam Packer 7. Ministers and Scandals .........................
  • In the Shadow of the Corporate Veil: James Hardie and Asbestos Compensation

    In the Shadow of the Corporate Veil: James Hardie and Asbestos Compensation

    PARLIAMENTA RY LIBRARY DEPA RTMENT OF PA RLIA MENTA RY SERV ICES RESEARCH NOTE INFORMATION, ANALYSIS 2004–05 A ND ADV ICE FO R THE PA RL IA MENT No. 12, 10 August 2004 In the shadow of the corporate veil: James Hardie and asbestos compensation Significant fallout is likely from the major difficulty for compensation assisting the NSW inquiry NSW inquiry into the treatment of planning. Mesothelioma (cancer of estimated the total claim against the Australian asbestos victims by the chest cavity) can emerge 40 Hardie Group could amount to 10 James Hardie Industries ('the Hardie years after exposure. Since 1945 $2.24 billion. about 7000 Australians have died Group'). The NSW Special In October 2001 the Hardie Group from this disease, estimated to rise Commission will not report until 21 assured the NSW Supreme Court to 18 000 by 2020. Other asbestos September this year but federal and that ABN 60 could call on $1.9 related cancers may be around 30— state governments are already billion owed by JHI NV for partly 40 000 by the same time. considering legislation to access the paid shares to meet future asbestos 1 Hardie Group's overseas assets. A major problem for the Hardie claims. This assurance was 'pivotal Construction unions in Victoria Group is the range of products it to the court giving approval for the have banned James Hardie made with asbestos. It faces transfer of ABN 60's assets' to JHI 2 materials, and the NSW growing claims from users of these NV in the Netherlands.11 But in Government may do likewise for products.
  • Local Adaptation Pathways Program Forum Report

    Local Adaptation Pathways Program Forum Report

    Local Adaptation Pathways Program Forum Report ‘from risk to action’ Looking Backward: Evaluation Looking Forward: Implementation June 2011 Report prepared by: ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability by: Martin Brennan, Wayne Wescott and Hazen Cleary ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI) is an international association of local governments and national and regional local government organisations that have made a commitment to sustainable development. More than 1200 cities, towns, counties and their associations worldwide comprise ICLEI’s membership. ICLEI Oceania ICLEI Oceania is the secretariat for the Oceania region. Its Melbourne head office is hosted by the City of Melbourne and which was established in 1999. ICLEI Oceania’s focus is to work predominantly with local governments in Australia and New Zealand. The Oceania office has been active in the Asia region with work undertaken on climate change action in support of local government in Indonesia, China, Korea and Taiwan. ICLEI Oceania undertakes collaborative work with Federal and State government departments and agencies, where that work builds the capacity of local governments to achieve sustainable communities, and supports those departments and agencies to progress their sustainable outcomes in partnership with the local government sector. We acknowledge the contribution of the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency: Colin Steele Sharon Larkin Cate Coddington Huong Vu Funded by the Australian Government
  • Hansard 17 Sep 1998

    Hansard 17 Sep 1998

    17 Sep 1998 Ministerial Statement 2309 THURSDAY, 17 SEPTEMBER 1998 convention industry to Queensland tourism and the 125,000 Queenslanders employed in the industry. The industry is one of the most lucrative sectors of the tourism industry and Mr SPEAKER (Hon. R. K. Hollis, Redcliffe) contributes more than $360m to the State's read prayers and took the chair at 9.30 a.m. economy every year—and jobs with it. On average, international delegates to conventions spend about $500 more on their PETITIONS visits than other tourists. And they are likely to The Clerk announced the receipt of the be first-time visitors who are often so following petitions— impressed by what they see that they return on holidays to inject more money into our Maryborough Base Hospital economy. From Dr Kingston (2,243 petitioners) That is why Cabinet has fast-tracked—on requesting the House to take the necessary the advice of the Minister for Tourism, Bob action to ensure the Maryborough Base Gibbs—a meeting incentive convention and Hospital is not downgraded in either services, exhibition grant scheme worth $2m which is staffing or equipment. being made available to the State's six convention bureaus. The $2m will enable the centres, in Cairns, Townsville, Whitsunday, the Maryborough Base Hospital Sunshine Coast, the Gold Coast and Brisbane From Dr Kingston (8,108 petitioners) to expand their marketing and promotion requesting the House to rescind forthwith the drives on a worldwide basis. $1m of that plans, the locations of services and staffing money has already been released and the schedules/locations currently released and other $1m will be released in January by replaced by physical, equipping and staffing Minister Gibbs.
  • Resisting Howard's Industrial Relations

    Resisting Howard's Industrial Relations

    RESISTING HOWARD’S INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ‘REFORMS’: AN ASSESSMENT OF ACTU STRATEGY Tom Bramble ‘We are facing the fight of our lives. The trade union movement will be judged on how effectively we meet this challenge’ (AMWU National Secretary, Doug Cameron, May 2005). Howard’s planned industrial relations (IR) legislation confronts Australian unions with their worst nightmare. This is obviously the case for rank and file members who face a savage attack on their conditions, but the legislation is also terrifying for the union bureaucracy. Since Federation, Australian capitalism has operated on the basis of mediating class conflict at the workplace through arbitration and conciliation. This did not mean that class conflict was absent, or that the arbitration system was not itself a weapon in this conflict, only that at the base of any such conflict was a recognition by employers and the state of the legitimacy of the union bureaucracy in the industrial relations process. With its WorkChoices legislation, the Howard government has signalled an onslaught on this entire system and, with it, the central role of union officials in the system of structured class relationships. The purpose of this article is to provide a critical assessment of the strategy drawn up by the ACTU to resist WorkChoices. Although there are differences of emphasis within their ranks, the ACTU executive and office bearers have pursued a strategy with five main components. First, to convince employers that they are wrong to break from the system that has served them well for a century. Second, to lobby the ALP at state and federal levels.
  • Australian Science Minister Demoted Outgoing Kim Carr Hailed As “One of the Best”

    Australian Science Minister Demoted Outgoing Kim Carr Hailed As “One of the Best”

    NATURE | NEWS Australian science minister demoted Outgoing Kim Carr hailed as “one of the best”. Cheryl Jones 19 December 2011 Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard took Australian science leaders by surprise last week when she demoted her Science Minister, Kim Carr, to a non-cabinet position. Carr has held the cabinet-level Innovation, Industry, Science and Research portfolio since Labor came to power in late 2007, and held, among others, the post of shadow science and research minister during the party's long period in opposition. He has now been given the Manufacturing and Defence Materiel portfolios in a move seen by some commentators as a power play by the prime minister as she struggles to hold on to leadership of the minority Labor government. Gillard deposed former prime minister Kevin Rudd shortly before a national election last year, and speculation abounds that the revamped ministry is designed to fortify her against a possible challenge from him. Just how Carr's demotion would figure in this scenario is unclear. He is not giving media interviews about the reshuffle. Science and research, including the government science agencies and university research, have been added to the tertiary education portfolio under Senator Chris Evans. The innovation and industry portfolios, meanwhile, have been added to the responsibilities of the climate-change minister, Greg Combet. Popular presence Australia’s science-policy experts acknowledge Carr’s performance in the cabinet. He was successful in winning funds for his portfolio. He also reformed the R&D tax incentive programme to stimulate research and development in small- and medium- sized companies, and moved to rejuvenate Australia’s ailing space programme.