Is there anything more cynical than a politician seeking to score political points on a sensitive issue by accusing another politician of seeking to score political points on a sensitive issue? OK, yes: any politician in the Howard government calling on anyone to apologise for anything.
In the meantime, I heard Greg Combet address the issue itself on the radio this morning: here’s the link, and the guts are over the fold:
GREG COMBET: He well knows that under the new workplace legislation the Government has brought in, it is now illegal for unions to either ask for a provision in an enterprise agreement that allows employees to take leave to attend a health and safety course that’s conducted by a union. And if we ask for it, we face a $33,000 fine and a worker faces a $6,000 fine. And that’s what the Federal Government seems to think of occupational health and safety.
LOUISE YAXLEY: The Government insists that the state OH&S laws will still apply and will not be overridden by this.
GREG COMBET: Well, that’s deceitful too, because the prohibition is a blanket prohibition on the capacity of unions to seek a provision in an enterprise agreement that would allow employees to attend a union-run health and safety training course. That’s the law that the Government has brought in.
LOUISE YAXLEY: Well, how can it be that the WorkChoices regulations impose this fine and yet the Government insists that the state legislation which says that OH&S training has to be provided is still in place?
GREG COMBET: Oh, because Mr Andrews is, and Mr Howard are trying to deceive the community, as they have done all the way with this new workplace legislation. They say one thing and do another, and they’re not going to be able to pull the wool over people’s eyes. The new workplace laws are bad for health and safety. Just imagine in the construction industry, where the Government has brought in special legislation to try and destroy union organisation, just imagine the effect that is going to have. Ultimately, I believe that will lead to more fatalities in that industry .
Footnote: Having cynically politicised Beazley’s comments, Andrews is now cynically using his very own political ploy to hide from public scrutiny, refusing to “discuss the matter on AM. A spokesman says he doesn’t want to politicise the Beaconsfield accident any further.” Jerk.
CS you took the words right out of my mouth.
To be fair, it does seem like Bomber WAS seeking to score political points off a sensitive issue.
And to talk about the rescuers skills before anyone’s been saved is pretty fucking dangerous. He plays the media SO inexpertly I’m embarrassed, and it’s getting worse.
Beazley’s mistake is possibly one of timing. He should have waited until they are out. When they are out and the families are no longer on tenterhooks hoping nothing goes wrong, it is no longer a sensitive issue.
Knock me down with a feather – Politicians making political points! What next? Archbishops making religious points?!
That’s great. I’m glad they know what the unions have done for them. Now all Kim has to do is convince the rest of the voting public that he wasn’t simply exploiting a tragedy to score political points. Of course, he could have just waited for the tragedy to be resolved and largely avoided the impression.
Hah, Combet is trying to say that the provision of a union run OH&S clause in an EBA complies with the principle of freedom of association.
Pathetic and he is using Beaconsfield as a smoke screen to bring back the union ‘persuaders’.
I take it you too are a Dockers fan, Naomi. A dark week for us all. Even those of us not at the bottom of a collapsed mine shaft.
Like Avocadia, I still think Beezer should have waited, though. Even for the sake of those in Beaconsfield who ‘know what the union’s done for them’. They may well know that, but somehow I doubt it will be at the forefront of their minds until the guys are out and safe.
BTW mines do not ccome under state OH&S laws they come under State Mines Act which have very comprehensive provisions for safety
I think the comments were fine in the context of a labour day rally; but if they were insensitive, surely it is more insensitive to then blow the same comments up into a national issue by seeking to politically capitalise on them? If Wheelie Bin Andrews had a skerrick of sincerity, he wouldn’t have said a thing, by definition.
I’ll assume that’s in reverse order of importance. Smiley face winking.
I’m a contrarian on this. The Beazer’s tone was right off target. He should have waited until the blokes are safe, international day of solidarity or not. Just ‘cos the other side, doesn’t mean Labor, etc etc etc.
The Age article cs linked to says:
He mentioned the government. Isn’t that politicising? Andrews takes it one step further into purely opportunistic territory, but I don’t think Beazley can be absolved from having begun the process.
I do agree with Naomi, though, that drawing attention to the political side of this horrible disaster isn’t an inappropriate thing to do. I’d rather he’d waited until after the men are gotten out of the mine, though. And perhaps there are other questions he ought to ask as well, such as what is the role of the Macquarie Bank (which owns the mine) in all this.
Politically, I think Beazley is trying to look “tough” and also keep the IR laws uppermost in people’s minds.
Seconds after they get those two fellers out, this will happen:
a) huge gouts of drooly emotion in which no-one else will get a word in edgewise and then
b) the media will say it is old news, and maybe
c) we will be told not to talk about it because there will be an enquiry.
To make the point, this is the only time.
“I’m a Bombers fan, but I do think the Dockers was robbed.”
What about a good lefty solution? Dockers get 4 points AND Saints get 2 points. Then in future the AFL additionally equip field umpires with vibrating pagers connected to the time clock, the same as top level women’s netball does.
nah, a good solution would be to punish both clubs and annul the result. That would mean then replaying the match – maybe after the regular season and before the finals.
This works from an AFL perspective since:
- it punishes the clubs
- it punishes the fans
- it protects incompetent umpires….
Which would be fine by me – since it would creul both teams finals chances if they make it…..
“Then in future the AFL additionally equip field umpires with vibrating pagers connected to the time clock”
Observa, as David Byrne might say, stop making sense. This is the AFL.
“What about a good lefty solution? Dockers get 4 points AND Saints get 2 points.”
Okay, but some might argue that rewarding elites with more than there is to go around is more of a ‘righty’ thing. Smiley face looking cheekily off-topic.
But wait! Now I’m at LEAST two degrees of separation from the topic. Sorry.
Beaconsfield etc.
Did anyone see any of the commercial news when this story broke?
On channel 7, (in Melbourne at least) the religious aspect was on volume 11! They had the whole program live from Beaconsfield, and really played the whole science vs religion thing.
They actually said “The trapped miners will be found with the combined efforts of faith… and science!” in the report. Had footage of church services and interviews with the priest. (Not that it’s a bad thing to acknowledge the importance of religion in times of stress, but to have such an emphasis on the power of prayer was unusual). It was scary to watch. I doubt they would have done it if the miners weren’t found alive…
“david tiley on 2 May 2006 at 11:17 pm
Seconds after they get those two fellers out, this will happen:
a) huge gouts of drooly emotion in which no-one else will get a word in edgewise and then
b) the media will say it is old news, and maybe
c) we will be told not to talk about it because there will be an enquiry.
To make the point, this is the only time.”
Absolutely spot on.
Beaz did the right thing.
Besides, I’d be pretty sure that the miner’s family and friends will be able to cope with his angle on ‘their’ story. I assume this is who we’re supposed to be protecting, by not politicising the event, merely making a media circus out of it?