John Howard looking increasingly desperate on IR

Listening to John Howard, the Industrial Relations Reformer Evangelist yabber on the radio about how he has wanted the current industrial relations reform for over 30 years, earlier in the week and in the same breath slam the union dominated Labor Party for wanting to modify his Work Choices legislation, made me laugh.

This is the week when he has pleaded for big (and small) business to get behind the reforms with paid commercial adverts (supporting the legislation) during the election season. This after changing the political salesman three times. Joe Hockey, the current owner of one of the more unpleasant tasks in politics is a pleasant enough politician, but he has a real turd to polish to persuade Australians that these reforms are fair. Initial responses have not been too positive, with many Australians judging that they dramatically favour employers over workers, particularly for lower paid and casual employees .


Union membership is down, but it is not too surprising, given the increasing limitations on their activities in the new legislation. The key issue is whether people are still sympathetic to the issues that the unions promote and which are generally taken on by the Labor Party here in Australia. If the opinion polls are to be believed, then yes they are. Look for lots of scare tactics about the return of militant unions and the like as we roll into election season.