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Summer 2006

Howard in Tasmania

About 100 protesters gathered at the High Tide Restaurant in Devonport to greet Prime Minister John Howard and let him know how they felt about the Coalition Government’s new workplace laws.

Protesters on the shore of the Mersey waved flags and banners while some took to the water to ensure their disapproval of the new laws was on display for those meeting in the waterfront restaurant.

Mr Howard was visiting Braddon with sitting member Mark Baker in preparation for next year's federal election, in which Braddon and Bass are key marginal seats. Mr Baker holds the seat of Braddon for the Liberal Party by the narrowest of margins - 1.1 per cent.

Mr Howard addressed local small business owners in Devonport before attending a civic reception in Ulverstone.

Suellen Goss, an ECA from Meecroft in Devonport who attended the protest, says, "I don't like anything about the new laws, so I thought I should go along and do my bit."

Suellen is most concerned about most workers not being able to take unfair dismissal cases under the new system. "They can just sack you on the spot," she said. "And it's not just about us, it's the next generation as well. I don't want my son going into the workforce and having poor pay and worse conditions than I've had."

A large group of 'your rights at work' protesters also met the Prime Minister in Ulverstone, where he attended a community afternoon tea. After the function, Mr Howard and Mr Baker attempted to leave the venue by a back exit and sought shelter in a nearby council building to avoid the protesters, leading local unionist Mike Wickham, of the Maritime Union of Australia to label them "Howard the coward and 'back door' Baker."

The following day in Hobart the PM addressed the State Liberal Conference and was again shadowed by Your Rights at Works activists.