Voters back the mining tax but oppose uranium exports to India, today’s Essential Report shows. And voters are less concerned about a return to Workchoices.
Industrial relations reform
The long tradition of union ‘interference’
Advocates of IR reform claim unions traditionally haven’t been allowed to “interfere” in issues such as contracting out. Wrong.
Delegitimising unions in the great game of labour v capital
As voters become more estranged from corporations and economic reform, neither labour nor capital is responding effectively to the sentiment.
Liberals in search of the case for IR reform
Since IR reformers won’t explain why we need it, we’ve looked at what WorkChoices accomplished. It wasn’t much.
Reith v Abbott: the early 90s wants its zeal back
The tensions between Tony Abbott and Peter Reith have deep roots in recent Liberal history. The former minister’s eagerness to prevent a return to “the Fraser years”, unencumbered by the party presidency, will be fascinating to watch.
The strange reform hypocrisy of Australian business
Australian business has an ordinary record of backing economic reform.
MacCormack: Oratory the loser on a day of fumbles
After weeks to prepare, the Prime Minister’s performance at his election news conference was inexplicably poor. In his response, Rudd started poorly, too - stiff and stilted, writes David MacCormack.
