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From Best Australian Poems 2005. A rather prescient view of things to come . . . I

Posted by Trevor Mallard on September 2nd, 2010
— The Labor Party –

A zoo animal that no one visits
but needing feeding. A cuddle
carried like a rancid parcel
to polling day, nowhere to put it.
A howling muddle with no middle.

Plumb out of soul to sell,
fratricidal rumblings in its tract,
factions or stones in its stomach.
Left, right, pacing like a swell
with a pauper on its back.

Bored, frantic, shaggy and bereft
this beast was once a star:
powerful, nearly moral, popular.
When the leopard has no spots left
we in cages mourn from afar.

— Tony Lintermans
Hat tip Daily Poem Service.
Filed under: Australia
11 Comments

Let your fingers do the walking

Posted by Phil Twyford on August 24th, 2010

What is going on with the Prime Minister’s diplomatic snub to Australian caretaker PM Julia Gillard?  He reluctantly admits to a journalist’s question that he phoned Opposition leader Tony Abbott after the weekend’s election, but not Prime Minister Julia Gillard, because he did not have her number.

So it is OK for the Prime Minister to phone the Australian Opposition Leader who is a fellow leader of the centre-right…but not call the Australian Prime Minister who happens to be a Labour leader?  He doesnt have the Australian PM’s number in his phone? He couldn’t get foreign affairs to give him the number?

Does he realise that Australia is this country’s most important relationship?

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Filed under: Australia, Foreign Affairs
36 Comments

Thoughts on Australia

Posted by Chris Hipkins on August 22nd, 2010

This morning Australian’s have awoken to the very real possibility of a hung parliament. While there are still several seats that are too close to call, it looks highly likely that neither Gillard’s Labor nor Abbott’s Coalition will make it to the magical 76 required to form a majority government. To us over the ditch, this is nothing unusual. We haven’t had a majority government since about 1994, and the last leader to govern with a comfortable majority was Jim Bolger from 1990-1993.

Once the final count has been completed the most likely outcome for Australia looks to be a minority government supported by independents. But the real question is who gets to lead that government, does the incumbent get the first chance to have a go, should it be the party with the most seats, should Labor’s loss of majority give Abbott the first chance?

It will be interesting to see how the Australian public react to whatever government emerges from these results. If the government ends up being led by the smaller of the two major parties (even if there is only a seat in it) the voting public may well react against them. There will be lessons for us over here in New Zealand. So far under MMP all of our governments have been led by the largest party in Parliament, but that’s not guaranteed.

In 1996 we could have ended up with a Labour/NZ First/Alliance government, even though National was the bigger of the two major parties. In 2002, despite their disastrous result, another percent or two and National could have led a centre-right coalition despite Labour being the much bigger party. Under MMP we could well end up with the biggest party in Parliament leading the opposition, not the government. What happens in Australia over coming weeks could provide a few clues as to how the public would view that.

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Filed under: Australia, democracy
27 Comments

There can’t be targets or milestones because there is no plan- Gerry version X

Posted by Trevor Mallard on August 6th, 2010

Yesterday in the House Brownlee made it clear the government is getting close to throwing in the towel on Key’s fundamental purpose of government.

Hansard below.

(more…)

Filed under: Australia, economy, inequality, national
34 Comments

National announces plan at last – shift to Australia

Posted by Trevor Mallard on August 5th, 2010

Sometimes you get leaks of policy through interjections. Today we got a gem from Paul Quinn.

After it was pointed out that twice as many firms in Aussie are increasing staff this year than in NZ, and that 23% more Aussie firms are planning to increase wages we at last got the plan.

Quinn said – Kiwis should move to Australia.

Filed under: Australia, jobs, low pay, wages
24 Comments

Friday Poll: On the wage gap with Australia

Posted by Clare Curran on July 30th, 2010

Before the last election John Key said the ‘fundamental purpose’ of his government would be to narrow the wage gap between New Zealand and Australia. How’s he doing?

(Note: you can answer more than one)

Do you believe the Government:

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...
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Filed under: Australia, economy
38 Comments

Same job, same uniform, different pay

Posted by Darien Fenton on July 28th, 2010

Qantas has been paying its New Zealand pilots up to 40% less than its Australian pilots, even although they wear the same uniform and fly the same routes.

Positions previously held by Qantas pilots are being lost to Jetconnect pilots as Qantas pay and conditions are much inferior here.

Despite being set up to undertake domestic flights within New Zealand, Jetconnect now operates 154 flights between Australia and New Zealand every week and is effectively an operating division of Qantas, says the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU).

Its New Zealand pilots wear Qantas uniforms, have Qantas staff numbers, and fly Qantas aircraft with travel routes determined by Qantas.

The ACTU says that where workers are doing the same job as Australian workers and in actual fact replacing Australian workers, Australian work legislation should apply to them.

The gap between Australian and New Zealand wages has grown by more than $50 a week since November 2008.  The government has no ideas or plan about how to address this gap, other than to further reduce workers rights.

New Zealand has become a desirable destination for Australian companies who want to pay workers less.

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Filed under: Australia, Employers, business, economy, labour, value of work, workforce
10 Comments

McCully Crosby Textor Anti Labor Leak

Posted by Trevor Mallard on July 23rd, 2010

It is MFAT’s fault – yeah right.

And for the record I don’t agree with Phil Goff that McCully should launch an inquiry. McCully can’t prosecute, defend and judge his own case. Someone else should take charge, where’s John Key?

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Filed under: Australia, Foreign Affairs, democracy
12 Comments

Apathy sucks#2

Posted by Clare Curran on July 22nd, 2010

If more people express their views, believe that they will be heard and that they can get involved and make a difference then we will have a healthier more participative society. Yes?

That’s one of my reasons for standing as a member of parliament. To try to break down the cynicism that people feel towards politics and politicians. It’s one of the goals of OpenLabourNZ.

Exercising your vote is an important way to express your views. Currently, in New Zealand, it’s not compulsory. It is compulsory to be on the electoral roll.

But quite a lot of people aren’t. For various reasons. Why then shouldn’t we make it easier for them? Currently you can enrol and change your details online, but you have to print off the fom, sign it and post to Elections NZ (the Electoral Commission). You can’t vote online.

In Australia, where’ there’s about to be a federal election, where it is compulsory to vote and the rolls are about to close, the Australian Electoral Commission is refusing to allow people to enrol online. An activist group called GetUp is taking them to court .

The activist group GetUp! is taking legal action to push its case that would-be voters should be able to enrol on the internet after the Australian Electoral Commission said it would reject voters who used the group’s enrolment tool.

The commission has warned that voters who have changed address have until 8pm today to update their details.

The GetUp! enrolment website OzEnrol.com, launched last Friday, allowed people to fill in an enrolment form online, using their mouse or trackpad to sign their name.

But the commission said the “digitally constructed” signature was not allowed under electoral law, making such enrolments invalid.

I believe we should be trying new ways and making it easier for people to be more actively involved and to exercise their democratic rights. It seems arcane to prevent them from participing in the democratic process. It’s not impossible surely! With appropriate security safeguards of course.

Something for us to consider? And why not be able to vote online?

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Filed under: #OpenLabourNZ, Australia, comms & IT, democracy
74 Comments

The keen to please PM

Posted by Phil Twyford on July 7th, 2010

Does John Key really think New Zealand is about to be hit by a wave of boat people?

“What I’ve said to the Australian prime minister is that we recognise there is a problem, and we recognise that from New Zealand’s perspective it’s a problem that is coming towards our shores at some point in the future.”

Mr Key said that from all the intelligence he had received, this was “a real issue”.

Has he looked at a map recently? There is a lot of ocean between us and them. Short of us putting out the welcome mat for people-smugglers it seems very unlikely they will make it this far.

Phil Goff has said the PM should stay out of Australia’s election campaign debate on what is a very difficult issue.  Key’s very keen to please. We saw that when he was moved to change his mind and extend the SAS deployment in Afghanistan, dazzled by the four stars of General Stanley McChrystal. I am sure Julia Gillard can be persuasive but New Zealand should think very carefully before stepping in to this debate.

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Filed under: Australia
31 Comments

A PM for people “who set their alarms early”

Posted by Darien Fenton on June 25th, 2010

image_largeThis is how the LHMU, one of Australia’s largest unions, described Julia Gillard as they welcomed in her swearing in as Australia’s new Prime Minister.

Yesterday, Julia Gillard committed to making Australia a place ‘where hard work is rewarded and the dignity of work is respected’ and she was adamant that ‘for families like mine, being treated decently in the workplace matters’.

Apparently, her father John is a life member of the LHMU.  The LHMU says :

“Just last week Julia Gillard met with over 70 LHMU cleaning leaders, listening to their stories and issues with respect and resolve. At this meeting she re-committed the Government to being both a procurer of Clean Start endorsed services and supported cleaners’ move of Clean Start into shopping centres. She’s supported our quest for quality childcare. It was her early intervention that ensured Government funding kept open the doors of ABC Learning childcare centres after the company’s collapse. It was her leadership that helped push through quality reforms for the sector, including better ratios and qualifications.

“It was Julia Gillard’s voice that was strongest in committing the Government’s support for the recent minimum wage increase. And it was her determination and focus that got rid of individual contracts of employment, despite a hostile Senate.

“In Julia Gillard we have a Prime Minister that knows working Australians and our members in particular, their issues and what a difference a Labor government can make.”

Can’t imagine anyone saying any of that about John Key.  Makes me envious.

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Filed under: Australia, labour
107 Comments

Ruddy hell

Posted by Brendon Burns on June 24th, 2010

Big question of the day. Will Kevin Rudd be here next week for the state luncheon and address to our Parliament ?

Had intended to head homewards as Parliament under urgency approached its midnight finish last night. Then news started coming through about possible challenge to PM Rudd courtesy of ever-alert Darren Hughes. (He is devastated that he may not be first ginga Australasian Prime Minister!)

More seriously, Rudd’s fighting performance when he faced the media about 12.30am our time on Sky (yes I do watch it sometimes) was impressive. Question is, was it  too little, too late.  Rudd gave up on the ETS – losing liberal credibility – and now appears to have lost the support of right and left factions. Some mining-linked trade unions have been funding a campaign against him because of his mining tax ! And we think politics here can be brutal at times. All eyes now on ALP caucus room.

Filed under: Australia
45 Comments

It’s going to ruin us – (we’ve heard it all before!)

Posted by Darien Fenton on June 10th, 2010

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This video is produced by the CFMEU – the Miners Union in Australia, in response to the whingeing about Rudd’s mining windfall tax.  Good on the Miners’ Union for taking a progressive stance on this.

As for NZ – remind you of anything in our past (or present)?

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Filed under: Australia, Mining
21 Comments