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Winter 2005

Abuse of Power

As John Howard’s popularity plummets to an all-time low following mass protests across Australia in response to his new workplace laws - which make job security a day-to-day proposition – his Government has now embarked on a massive taxpayer- funded propaganda exercise.

With Australian workers rejecting Federal Government moves to abolish job security, drive down the minimum wage and strip award conditions, John Howard is now spending hundreds of millions of dollars on a series of highly misleading radio and television advertisements that bear no relation to how the new laws will work in reality.

HACSU State Secretary, Chris Brown, said he had never before seen such a response from Tasmanian workers.

"This is the first example of a Government who now has complete control abusing that power, and Tasmanians have reacted very strongly against it," Chris Brown said.

"Very few of the important details of this workplace relations package were stated in the election."

"John Howard never promised in the election that he would abolish job security for 90% of the Australian workforce, strip awards, cut the minimum wage and abolish the Tasmanian industrial relations system."

"The response we have had from members is shock and anger. We have had around 800 members who have never before been activists signing up to say they are prepared not only to be union members but to get active and become activists in the Our rights At Work campaign."

"I think John Howard has totally misread the importance Australian workers put on job security, and the fact that they want a decent system of wages and conditions that they can pass on for their children."

"Australians don't want jobs that are day-to-day propositions."

"I don't think any spin or propaganda will convince Australian or Tasmanian workers they should be able to be sacked tomorrow without any comeback, or that the minimum wage should be left to wither."

"In fact many employers are against these changes. I have had a range of employers come up to me and say these changes are wrong. We won't be going down this path."

"People are saying this is not just about our future, it's also about the future of our kids."