If the recollections of Packer (such as Gerald Stone’s) are anything to go by then Howard and Packer are very different. Though I do agree with the idea that Channel 9 has forged ahead by the old rule of never underestimate the public’s taste. What passes for current affairs at 9 in general is woeful. Imagine the media in Australia dominated by Murdoch and Packer?

Changing tangent slightly, what Packer did for cricket is well documented and I agree with the assessment that he changed the game for the better. However the 9 coverage is getting stale and listening to the ABC coverage is a much better option. On the way home the other day I listened to Peter Roebuck interview Zolani Bongco about his uncle who was a member of the ANC and eventually hanged by the apartheid government. All in between calling the day’s play. Fascinating.

The government won’t see this coming because it’s composed of senior ministers capable of saying things like ‘But workers will be allowed to have their accountants with them when they negotiate workplace agreements’ (K. Andrews). There is nil comprehension of what ‘ordinary’ people’s lives, and incomes, are like.

Which is, of course, what lost Paul Keating the election that produced the situation we have now.

There are a number of differences.

Firstly the Opposition did not openly campaign against Arbitration but like lower tariffs did so in certain electorates.

Collective Bargaining actually had a positive effect on Unions although few of them saw it at the time. The ability of the AMWU to ’strike’ went out the factory gate when the last in first to be fired went.

There was no power to unceremoniously fire any employee without a reason. Unions could on an even field fight obvious cases like sacking of union delegates for reasons that were seen to be rubbish.

Collective Bargaining led to a collection of interest between the company and the workforce.

Under the new laws it will be very hard for Unions to do much at all. People can be dismissed without reason.

And The ALP is committed to completely changing the laws if they win.

I suggest if you think the debate between Arbitration and Collective Bargaining is the same as the IR debate today you just weren’t around then.”

Bring Back EP etc: I was around - and heard a lot of hyperbole similar to what we heard in 2005. The argument differentiating these reforms from the others is that previous IR reforms no disadvantage tests means that there were few losers, and in privatisation and tariff cuts the “losers” were confined to those who lost their jobs in inefficient industries - many thousands of people, but not enough to swing elections. In theory, these IR reforms will affect a larger number of people. In practice, I believe the number who are negatively affected will be much smaller - and concentrated among people who won’t vote Liberal anyway. Most people’s votes will be guided by macro rather than micro considerations, and these should be marginally improved by the legislation. Despite the defeatist Labor mythology, they have done well in the polls many times during the Howard years. Every election is winnable for Labor. But Labor optimism about 2007 based on recent polls is premature. A general economic downturn would be much better for them.

North Korea will continue to make aggresive posturings and generally be ignored by the world community in comparison with events in the Middle East.

Historically the more educated have tended to be more right wing while the lesser educated working class have been left orientated. The reversal in recent times will continue. The right will continue to be wary of intellectuals and pitch their spiel towards the more ignorant to maintain support.

Australia will see an increase in USA companies setting up call centers in Australia with the implementation of the 2005 IR legislation. Expect companies such as Dell to be amongst the first.

packed it in

Kerry Packer has died. He always struck me (strictly from what I saw and read in the media) as a brutish, unattractive man with no particular redeeming qualities. Of course, the “tributes” are flowing in from his peers and of course Howard has called him a “great Australian”. Back-slapping.

I’m surprised that we were spared a rendition of “Tears in Heaven” with a CGI Don Bradman opening the pearly gates to let the big fella in and usher him to the couch to watch the rest of the Boxing Day Test.

If they had done that I would totally forgive them for the hours that they took from my life that I will never get back while waiting for non-Kerry Packer news.

I suggest if you think the debate between Arbitration and Collective Bargaining is the same as the IR debate today you just weren’t around then.

of course to hear Joe Isaac speak the virtues of collective bargaining and then become a convert to arbitration after becoming a Judge was a classic to behold

I adree this is premature, but all that is happening here is the always-likely calming down following the polls reflecting the hyperbole surrounding the legislation’s final passage through the Parliament. The history of economic reform and public opinion is instructive here. Unilateral cutting of tariffs has always been unpopular. Privatisation was generally unpopular after the 1980s. Previous industrial relations reforms were unpopular before they were introduced, but broadly accepted afterwards. However, on election day electors make global judgments on governments, and provided the broad outcomes are ok governments tend to get re-elected. This is why the period of economic reform has been politically stable - only one change of government since 1983. If the economy is going well in 2007, the Liberals can survive the few bastard employer stories that will inevitably surface. The IR reforms will have little effect on most people, since for all practical purposes they are already operating in a market environment. “Acceptance” is the key term here - people will accept things that are part of a broader package, even if they do not support them.

The best ever Ashes. compulsive viewing.

We beat Uruguay and are in the WORLD cup.

2006

The Ashes are now here. Barring changed pitches the Poms will thrash us of course we would never do anything like changing fast pitches to spinning ones would we.That’s cheating!

We play in the World Cup.
We beat Japan in the opening game, draw with Brazil and then beat the Croats which produces some violence in places in Australia.
We then best Italy go onto success in both quarterfinals and Semi-finals and finish runners up.

The ALP an nonce Guus Hiddink is their new leader and Centrebet will not take bets on next election!