tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-108861782024-03-07T17:15:34.412+11:00Blue Mountains Unions & CommunityNews and views - Blue Mountains Unions Council (BMUC Inc.)Blue Mountains Unions Councilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592343058650515412noreply@blogger.comBlogger6472125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10886178.post-88437053358539930652023-11-27T17:09:00.000+11:002023-11-27T17:09:26.148+11:00Tune in to BMUC's radio show!<p>Each Friday between 4pm and 6pm BMUC members host a radio show, Rights, Rorts and Rants, on Radio Blue Mountains 89.1FM which is also livestreamed via <a href="http://rbm.org.au">rbm.org.au</a>.</p><p>You can hear some of the show's past content, recordings of Politics in the Pub, and other BMUC events on our <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/28vUZSJemfcW7WeJ0ntptm?si=16cc229bcd334d6d" target="_blank">Rights, Rorts and Rants podcast</a> via Spotify and other casting services.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Blue Mountains Unions Councilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592343058650515412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10886178.post-27762408520869100372020-07-28T14:34:00.002+10:002020-07-28T14:34:51.406+10:00<h1 style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">What have we done? </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizleA14Wfk7pFjMscGOAMuxWNgjR_B41roIcMsyR-tcxRgq8Ym1t2nIFV80ckMuSX93cVm4z3O0Cjwog8gfCb3chyphenhyphenFNaWJUhiKIb-kgj6gsE2knX9eHk9TBOHPz4ytJQCYFCAY0A/s554/BMUC+logo+2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizleA14Wfk7pFjMscGOAMuxWNgjR_B41roIcMsyR-tcxRgq8Ym1t2nIFV80ckMuSX93cVm4z3O0Cjwog8gfCb3chyphenhyphenFNaWJUhiKIb-kgj6gsE2knX9eHk9TBOHPz4ytJQCYFCAY0A/s320/BMUC+logo+2017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>Our Annual Report.</i></span></div></h1><div><span style="background-color: white;">No matter how busy we get, we're always a bit surprised at how much we've done when we review our activities each year. Our Annual Report says it all for 2019/2020.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Drought. Fire. Floods. Pandemic.</i> </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>In the 25 year* history of the <a href="l.ead.me/bmuc" target="_blank">BMUC </a>our community has never experienced a 12 months like it. Trade unionists have often been in the front line - working in Fire & Rescue, hospitals, aged care, public transport, and schools. It's been stressful, potentially dangerous work and there's no immediate end in sight. I'd like to place on the public record our appreciation for their magnificent contribution to our community.</div><div><br /></div><div>As with every voluntary organisation in the Blue Mountains the lock down presented us with challenges - things we once took for granted like holding monthly members' meetings or staging Politics in the Pub - in the pub - became impossible. </div><h3 style="text-align: left;">COMMUNITY RADIO</h3><p style="text-align: left;">They say that in a crisis people turn to the radio. Fortunately, BMUC had already established a presence on Radio Blue Mountains 89.1FM but it's fair to say that during the pandemic our weekly show - <a href="https://rbm.org.au/?shows=riots-rorts-rants" target="_blank">Rights, Rorts & Rants</a> (Fridays 4-6pm on Radio Blue Mountains 89.1 FM or livestreamed on <a href="http://rbm.org.au">rbm.org.au</a> gave us a lifeline. </p><div>Programs reflected the challenges of our times - shocking examples of wage theft by some of the biggest brand names in Australia; the lessons of the catastrophic bushfire season; human induced climate change; exploitation of foreign workers; the millions of Australians who missed out on JobSeeker and Job Keeper - especially in the mountains' biggest industry - tourism and hospitality. Our program makers gave voice to community campaigners concerned about a range of environmental issues - including the future of Katoomba Airfield, Warragamba Dam and plans for the Great Western Highway at Blackheath. We've also investigated the complexities of 5G. </div><div><br /></div><div>All members are encouraged to contribute and it's a good sign for the future that some of the most stimulating pieces have been produced by our youngest member - a 16-year-old student, James Dawes, whose <a href="https://anchor.fm/rightsrortsandrants/episodes/Black-Lives-Matter-in-the-US-efd4sh" target="_blank">knowledge of US politics is truly impressive</a>. Many have taken part, but for all their work keeping the show on air I'd particularly like to thank Fran Dyson, Debra Smith and Merran McLaren. </div><h3 style="text-align: left;">MUSIC </h3><div>An important part of the program is showcasing the work of local musicians. We may be the City of the Arts but it's not always easy for musos to find a place to perform. Before the Covid 19 struck we were able to stage for the second year running a music event for activists at <a href="https://www.katoombahotel.com.au/" target="_blank">Blackburns Family Hotel</a>. The entrants for this year's Sing It! Say It! contest showed the range of talent in the Blue Mountains - and the audience of all ages that turned out on the night loved it. Many thanks to the <a href="https://hsu.net.au/" target="_blank">Health Services Union</a> and the <a href="https://www.meaa.org/" target="_blank">Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance</a> for putting up the prizes of $500 each, contributing to </div><div>prizes to local bands of $500 for <a href="https://www.triplejunearthed.com/artist/blumesday-0" target="_blank">Blumedsay</a>, $300 to <a href="https://www.triplejunearthed.com/artist/safire-palms" target="_blank">Safire Palms</a> and $200 to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pg/tigermoth.music/community/" target="_blank">Tigermoth</a>. Since then our Music Director Fran Dyson has kept the spirit of Sing It! Say It! alive by arranging for performers from that night to play at The Family. Once Social Distancing rules are relaxed local musicians will again perform in the Live and Original series organised by BMUC and held monthly at The Family. This series gives the local music scene a boost by providing industry paid gigs as well as an opportunity for relatively inexperienced musicians to play to a supportive audience. Performers also promote their gigs on the radio show, adding much appreciated live content to the mix.</div><h3 style="text-align: left;">BLUE MOUNTAINS <a href="https://bm-community-union.tidyhq.com/public/pages/air-watch---monitoring-air-quality-in-the-blue-mountains" target="_blank">AIRWATCH</a></h3><div>This project originated from a BMUC campaign to monitor coal dust. The 12 air pollution monitors and pod set up between Lithgow and Springwood provided invaluable information on smoke hazards during the bushfires. Residents were able to go online and get near real time pollution readings - an important service given the known health risks of bushfire smoke. It's been estimated that over 400 people died across Australia during the last fire season. BMUC joined with Blue Mountains Conservation Society, Lithgow Environment Group, Doctors for the Environment, BMCC and Lithgow Councils appealing to the State Government to extend Blue Mountains Air Watch for five years. When the EPA said that the air monitors would be removed this year over 500 residents signed a petition in support of their retention, which the Member for the Blue Mountains is to table in Parliament. In a later development BMUC member had a chance meeting with Environment Minister Matt Kean while on a bush walk. Mr. Kean promised to consider our request and talk it through with our local member Trish Doyle. Many thanks to Trish for her backing on this issue.</div><h3 style="text-align: left;">EXPLOITATION OF FOREIGN WORKERS</h3><div>BMUC joined calls for an investigation into allegations of alarming work practices at the Escarpment group of luxury hotels in the Blue Mountains. These allegations made in a series of reports in the SMH and Sun Herald are under investigation by the Department of Home Affairs and the Fair Work Ombudsman - we've yet to hear the outcome. </div><h3 style="text-align: left;">POLITICS IN THE PUB</h3><div>Before the lock down we were able to stage two Politics in the Pub events - examining the ever contentious issue of Fair Trade and the never ending War on the Poor where we called for a raise to the rate of Newstart. </div><h3 style="text-align: left;">CLIMATE CHANGE RALLIES</h3><div>Pre pandemic BMUC members joined other community activists at well attended climate change rallies at Springwood and Blackheath - the latter event organised by <a href="https://sites.google.com/view/macquarieclimateactivists/home?fbclid=IwAR1bxfgUyu3ab5iMiAcTKvDV---gWuT6ArBPzTZbP9pJAoOTgZcTWuTUEj0" target="_blank">Macquarie Electorate Students Climate Activists</a>. </div><h3 style="text-align: left;">BLACK LIVES MATTER RALLY</h3><div>Our members also gave support to a Black Lives Matter rally in Katoomba. </div><h3 style="text-align: left;">SUBMISSION ON THE ENSURING INTEGRITY BILL</h3><div>We joined many other unionists around the country who saw this bill as a fundamental attack on trade unionism. We sent a detailed submission to Cross Bench Senators. Earlier this year the Federal Government withdrew the Bill. </div><h3 style="text-align: left;">ATTACKS ON THE ABC</h3><div>Following the loss of one thousand jobs in ten years the Federal Government has continued to reduce funding for the national broadcaster and in June it was announced that another 250 plus jobs are to go, along with major programming cuts including the flagship 7.45 am Radio News Bulletin. BMUC has campaigned for funding and programming to be restored in the interests of democracy at a time when surveys show that more Australians trust the ABC above all other media, and when our own community relied on the ABC for accurate information during our emergencies. </div><h3 style="text-align: left;">BUSHFIRE INQUIRY</h3><div>Two members gave evidence to the NSW Government's bushfire inquiry - pressing the case for the Blue Mountains Air Watch project, and the need for much greater resources for fire-fighters in future. </div><h3 style="text-align: left;">ON THE WEB</h3><div>Our blog, website, membership applications, social media, podcasts and </div><div>YouTube channel can all be accessed via one easy link: <a href="http://l.ead.me/bmuc">l.ead.me/bmuc</a>. </div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://bmuc.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">BLUE MOUNTAINS UNIONS BLOG</a></h3><div>For yet another year Mark Gregory's Blog has tracked important stories in politics and industrial relations - the blog is viewed about 4000 times per month and since its creation has been viewed 479,234 times. </div><h3 style="text-align: left;">SOCIAL MEDIA</h3><div>We have two Facebook pages, one for <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Blue.Mountains.Unions.and.Community/" target="_blank">Blue Mountains Unions & Community</a> with 728 followers and a much newer one for our radio show <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RightsRortsandRants/" target="_blank">Rights, Rorts and Rants</a> with 81 followers. We also have a <a href="https://twitter.com/bmucinc" target="_blank">Twitter</a> account with 2192 followers. </div><h3 style="text-align: left;">PODCASTS</h3><div>We've recently started publishing material from Rights, Rorts and Rants as podcasts. You can listen to them via <a href="https://bm-community-union.tidyhq.com/public/pages/bmuc_podcasts" target="_blank">Spotify, iTunes, Anchor, Overcast, Radio Public, Google Podcasts, Breaker and Pocket Casts</a>.</div><h3 style="text-align: left;">SOCIAL LIFE</h3><div>Many thanks to Merran McLaren for opening up her home for what was a great end of year party. </div><h3 style="text-align: left;">MCRN</h3><div>We would like to acknowledge the support of the <a href="https://www.mcrn.org.au/" target="_blank">Mountains Community Resource Network</a>.</div><h3 style="text-align: left;">THANKS TO</h3><div>The Family Hotel for again giving the BMUC a warm welcome and great support throughout the year; the BMUC Executive: Paul Wray , Susan Lammiman, Bruce Cornwell, Norm Short, Peter Lammiman, Fran Dyson and especially our Secretary Deb Smith, who does so much in so many ways to keep us going. </div><h3 style="text-align: left;">THE YEAR AHEAD</h3><div>We hear a lot these days about "the new normal". At the time of writing nobody really knows what that will really be. For example, will Blue Mountains workers currently working at home be allowed to continue to do so after the pandemic? What agreements are in place for working at home? The biggest private employers in the mountains - hospitality and tourism - have been among the hardest hit by the pandemic - when will those stood down get their jobs back? </div><div><br /></div><div><i>I'll end on a positive note:</i> A recent poll found that three out of four Australians believe unions provide essential services to ensure members are paid properly, have a strong and safe working environment, and provide a strong collective voice. It's time to <a href="https://www.australianunions.org.au/why_join" target="_blank">belong to a union</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>In Solidarity </div><div><br /></div><div>Kerry Cooke </div><div>President </div><div>Blue Mountains Unions & Community </div><div>(Blue Mountains Union Council Inc) </div><div>June 2020 </div><div><br /></div><div>* Although we know that BMUC was definitely founded in the 1980's, the exact date is lost in the mists of the mountains. </div>Blue Mountains Unions Councilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592343058650515412noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10886178.post-23359337933050455672020-06-17T13:21:00.003+10:002020-06-17T13:21:36.246+10:00Poll Australian workers would be better off with stronger unions.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A new poll has revealed that for the first time since the series began in 2012, half of all Australians believe Australian workers would be better off with stronger unions.<br />
<br />
A further 3 out of 4 Australians believe unions provide essential services to ensure members are paid properly, have a safe working environment and provide a strong collective voice.<br />
<br />
The peak body for working people in Australia has welcomed the results, saying they are a reflection of the crucial role unions have played during the pandemic, and the important role unions play giving workers a voice.<br />
<br />
<b>Quotes attributable to ACTU Secretary Sally McManus:</b><br />
<br />
“This research tells us that Australians know who has their back - not just in the workplace but also during a national economic and health crisis.<br />
<br />
“Unionised workers have steered the country through this pandemic and will continue to play a leading role in the economic rebuild.<br />
<br />
“Australian unions fought for and won the JobKeeper wage subsidy and the increase to the JobSeeker payment.<br />
<br />
“We continue to campaign for paid pandemic leave and proper workplace safety regulations to keep all workers safe as the economy reopens.<br />
<br />
“And we will be holding big business and the government to account throughout the economic rebuild.<br />
<br />
“We are working to win more secure jobs and fairer wages.<br />
<br />
“The pandemic may pass, but some in the business lobby have made clear they want to make pay cuts permanent. We won’t allow pay cuts to further punish young people, women and be a drag on the living standards of working people.<br />
<br />
“Pay cuts and cuts to workers’ rights will not help Australia recover. They will just make this crisis last longer and deeper while people at the top reap the profits.”</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10886178.post-88809191512236272712020-05-26T12:22:00.001+10:002020-05-26T12:23:55.645+10:00What part does Aldi play in safety in transport?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What part does Aldi play in safety in transport?</b></span><br />
<br />
<i>When wealthy retailers like Aldi squeeze transport, drivers are pressured to work longer hours, speed and skip mandatory rest breaks to get the job done.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>But Aldi refuses to acknowledge or address the risks to safety they cause in their supply chain.</i><br />
<i>In fact, Aldi took the TWU to the Federal Court in an attempt to silence truckies speaking out on safety.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Coles and Woolworths have signed charters with the TWU to ensure safety in their transport supply chains. It’s time for Aldi to come to the table.</i><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Last year alone, 60 transport workers were killed on the job.</span><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
Transport workers serve a claim on Aldi</h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10886178.post-5341659852570573432020-05-25T13:14:00.000+10:002020-05-25T13:14:25.005+10:00Polling conducted for the ACTU shows a staggering lack of basic preventative measures<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>Polling conducted for the ACTU shows a staggering lack of basic preventative measures in Australian workplaces and highlights the need for immediate action to improve WHS standards.</b><br />
<br />
Key findings from the poll:<br />
<br />
Asked if their employer had implemented basic preventative measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19;<br />
<br />
11% of those currently in the workplace and 4% of those working from home said they had additional hygiene measures like hand sanitiser or access to soap and water<br />
<br />
4% of those in the workplace said there was additional cleaning or disinfection occurring<br />
9% of those still in their workplace and 8% of those working from home said there was a plan in place in case they or a co-worker developed symptoms or tested positive<br />
<br />
1% had access to additional paid pandemic leave<br />
0% of those still in their workplace said their employer had made any effort to support their mental health<br />
<br />
Social distancing, the highest-profile preventive measure, which states, territories and the federal government have been mandating for months, is only in place for 70% of people still in their workplace, and 59% of those working from home.<br />
<br />
The polling shows workers on lower incomes are more likely to say they would go to work even if they were sick. Universal paid pandemic leave would allow all working people to take time off when they need to in order to protect themselves and the community.<br />
<br />
This data shows there is an overwhelming majority of Australians without the basic protections we know will help prevent the spread of the virus.<br />
<br />
<b>Quotes attributable to ACTU Secretary Sally McManus:</b><br />
<br />
“More needs to be done to keep workers safe. We are more than two months into the lockdown period and almost 90% of working people say their workplaces don’t have hand sanitiser.<br />
<br />
“Pandemic leave, or some form of additional paid leave is necessary to ensure that people can get tested or self-isolate, but has been provided to 1% of working people.<br />
<br />
“This polling shows how much work is left to be done before the economy can be safely re-opened. The union movement is launching a campaign to make workplaces as safe as possible, but we need immediate action from all governments to prevent a second wave of infection.”<br />
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10886178.post-7526680342678846422020-05-23T11:24:00.002+10:002020-05-23T11:24:49.146+10:00ACTU Federal Court has ruled to protect the rights of working people<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The Federal Court has ruled to protect the rights of working people who are labelled casuals purely to strip them of job security, rights and pay in a landmark ruling in the case of WorkPac Pty Ltd Rossato.<br />
<br />
This decision is a massive step forward in the fight for more secure work for Australian workers.<br />
<br />
It shines a spotlight on the unfairness of casualisation and has shut down a loophole that labour hire companies have been exploiting to undermine job security and pay.<br />
<br />
Working people need more job security, this decision confirms their rights to permanent rights if their job is permanent.<br />
<br />
<b>Quotes attributable to ACTU Secretary Sally McManus:</b><br />
<br />
“This is a huge win for the workers involved and their union the CFMMEU, but it is also a win for all workers who are suffering because of systemic casualisation. It clearly demonstrates the need to reduce workplace insecurity.<br />
<br />
<b>“We need the stop the practice of some employers labelling jobs “casual” when they are in fact permanent. This has stripped workers of rights and security.</b><br />
<br />
“It’s time for employers to accept that finding new ways to make permanent jobs casual has to end. We should be working together as a country to reduce the number of insecure jobs, it has got out of control and unfortunately too many people are now feeling the harsh reality of having no job protections during the pandemic.<br />
<br />
<b>“We congratulate Paul Skene, the worker whose case led to this decision, for standing up with his union and fighting for this win for casual workers.”</b></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10886178.post-48233464292033578162020-05-22T13:45:00.001+10:002020-05-22T13:45:03.470+10:00AMWU Welcomes Labor's Support for Manufacturing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU) welcomes Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese’s focus on revitalising Australian manufacturing and investing in infrastructure as part of a COVID-19 recovery strategy.<br />
<br />
“This crisis has demonstrated the importance of having a domestic manufacturing industry” said AMWU National Secretary Paul Bastian.<br />
<br />
“Manufacturing has been vital to get us through this crisis, with firms retooling to provide essential medical supplies like masks and ventilators. We cannot return to an economy solely reliant on tourism and exporting raw materials in the wake of this crisis. We must support Australian manufacturing, and we welcome the vision of the Federal Labor Party outlined by Mr Albanese today”, Mr Bastian said.<br />
<br />
Mr Bastian said that government investing in infrastructure to get the economy moving again was “absolutely the right thing to do.”<br />
<br />
“We need to fill up the factories with work as soon as possible. The best way to do that is for the government to invest in nation-building infrastructure.”<br />
<br />
The COVID-19 crisis has exposed the dangers of hollowing out our manufacturing sector and becoming reliant on long international supply chains.<br />
<br />
“For decades, governments have chosen to send manufacturing jobs offshore to the cheapest bidder. We welcome Mr Albanese’s recognition of the damage this has done to manufacturing communities across the country, especially in regional areas”, Mr Bastian said.<br />
<br />
“We strongly support Mr Albanese’s call to build Australian-made trains and invest in high speed rail. We need to build back better from this crisis. Governments spending taxpayer money here at home, buying and building locally and supporting Australian jobs, Australian businesses, and the Australian economy just makes sense”, Mr Bastian said.<br />
<br />
Mr Albanese also spoke of the need to better commercialise scientific research, and invest in skills and training.<br />
<br />
“A well funded TAFE and Vocational Education and Training sector is vital for Australia’s future. We’ve lost a lot of our sovereign capability through successive decades of neglect. To create the highly skilled workforce that will be essential to rebuild our manufacturing capability, we must invest in TAFE as Mr Albanese said”, Mr Bastian said.<br />
<br />
<br />
“The Federal Government should take Mr Albanese’s suggestions on board as they chart a course forwards through this crisis”, Mr Bastian said.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10886178.post-21746646153920836212020-05-22T13:41:00.001+10:002020-05-22T13:41:31.667+10:00TAFE and NSW Teachers Federation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Despite the NSW Government walking away from the TAFE Enterprise Agreement in March, Federation has secured a commitment from TAFE NSW for certainty of ongoing employment for long-term temporary employees.<br />
<br />
Federation is “appalled” at the behaviour of the Government in dropping the Enterprise Agreement (EA) in March but welcomed the TAFE Managing Director’s advice that TAFE NSW will work with Federation to uphold the commitment to the conversion of temporary employees, agreed to in the bargaining process.<br />
<br />
Federation began bargaining with TAFE NSW for a new Teachers and Related Employees Enterprise Agreement late in 2019.<br />
<br />
Federation and TAFE NSW held many meetings, at which we progressed toward finding agreement on key issues. Those key issues, identified by TAFE members who had undertaken a pre-bargaining survey distributed to all workplaces, included a 2.5 per cent pay rise with no loss of conditions, an increase in permanency, and access to genuine professional development to maintain vocational currency.<br />
<br />
Mindful that TAFE teachers and related employees last received a pay rise in late November 2018, Federation worked with a view to finalising bargaining as soon as possible after the expiry date of the current EA on 3 February, 2020. This would have allowed TAFE teachers and related employees to complete a ballot period as required by Fair Work, and receive their first pay rise in the first quarter of 2020.<br />
<br />
On 27 February, a joint communiqué signed by Federation President Angelo Gavrielatos and TAFE managing director Steffen Faurby was sent to TAFE members advising that bargaining had progressed to a point where very few matters required more detailed discussion.<br />
<br />
On Wednesday, 11 March, TAFE NSW and Federation met for a marathon seven hours, where wording for a new EA was finalised.<br />
<br />
TAFE NSW sent Federation correspondence late that night – a full copy of the proposed EA and all documentation that would sit alongside it (such as recommittal of the Administrative Agreement) – allowing the union to take a recommendation to our TAFE TA Council on 13 March and then to Federation State Council the next day. At both councils, a recommendation to accept the EA was endorsed unanimously.<br />
<br />
TAFE NSW had informed Federation that should we indicate a positive response from Council, TAFE would commence the Fair Work ballot on the following Monday or Tuesday, 16 or 17 March, with a view to close the ballot on 1 April.<br />
<br />
If this ballot of employees was affirmative, this timeline would have allowed the first pay rise to occur before the commencement of term 2.<br />
<br />
However, on 18 March, Mr Faurby informed Federation the Berejiklian Government was no longer honouring the commitment it had made regarding the TAFE Teachers and Related Employees Enterprise Agreement (correspondence). This decision was ostensibly related to the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic.<br />
<br />
Federation immediately sought legal advice regarding this delay and responded to the TAFE Managing Director.<br />
<br />
Further, Mr Gavrielatos petitioned the Premier to alter the decision and honour the agreement that was made in good faith.<br />
<br />
This resulted in further correspondence from TAFE, received by Federation on 30 March.<br />
<br />
Federation is appalled at the behaviour of this government regarding this matter, and continues to canvas all legal, political and industrial options available to bring this matter to a swift and just conclusion.<br />
<br />
Our EA determines our working conditions and, along with the National Employment Standards, contains all teachers and related employees’ industrial entitlements. When bargaining for an EA, the union is concerned about more than just a pay rise; it is always looking to include wording to alleviate any ongoing workplace difficulties.<br />
<br />
During this recent bargaining, Federation gained a commitment from TAFE NSW to include a clause in the EA that converted long-term temporary teachers to permanency.<br />
<br />
Those who have been TAFE employees for some time may remember the Temporary Teacher Agreement before being moved into the federal Fair Work industrial system. This agreement outlined a process where part-time casual teachers, who had been merit-selected into a temporary teacher position and had held that position continuously for two years, were converted to permanency.<br />
<br />
While this agreement had occasional hiccups in implementation, there were large numbers of teachers who benefitted from it. Unfortunately, once we were moved into the federal Fair Work Act, all policies and agreements that were not a part of the EA were disregarded by subsequent management.<br />
<br />
Further, the Fair Work Act does not allow the commission to rule on issues outside an EA. Thus, even where a management decision is patently unfair, an employer cannot be instructed by Fair Work to implement a policy that is not in an EA or the National Employment Standards.<br />
<br />
During this recent bargaining process, Federation was able to negotiate the introduction of a similar concept into the 2020 Enterprise Agreement. The (unimplemented) EA, as negotiated earlier this year, contains a discreet clause, Conversion of Temporary Employees to Permanent Employment.<br />
<br />
Correspondence from the Managing Director on 1 May included a reference to TAFE NSW upholding these commitments.<br />
<br />
"TAFE NSW is continuing to work with the NSW Teachers Federation to honour commitments that can be implemented outside of enterprise bargaining, including the conversion of temporary employees to permanent employment, and also establishing new consultation arrangements between the two organisations. We look forward to sharing more information about these commitments in due course."<br />
<br />
Key concepts of this are:<br />
<br />
After completing two years of continuous service in the same temporary position, a temporary employee will be made permanent providing:<br />
<br />
there are no excess permanent employees who would match the position<br />
the initial appointment was on the basis of merit ongoing work is available as determined by the<br />
<br />
Regional General Manager and General Manager People and Safety<br />
the temporary employee has the relevant skills qualifications, experience and work performance standards to enable the employee to perform the duties of the position concerned.<br />
Requests for conversion from temporary to permanent employment will not be unreasonably refused.<br />
<br />
While it is terribly disappointing the government chose to walk away from committing to this reasonable clause by enacting it as law, we welcome the TAFE Managing Director’s advice that TAFE NSW will work with Federation to implement this clause before finalising the implementation of the new EA.<br />
<br />
Up until now, teachers who have been long-term temporary employees had no certainty of ongoing employment, and often relied upon Federation advocating for their conversion to permanency with TAFE NSW.<br />
<br />
This was never ideal and certainly not fair. Until this clause is formally included in the Teachers and Related Employees Enterprise Agreement, Federation will continue to monitor temporary employment. This is reliant upon those members who are long-term temporary employees contacting the union to advise us of their circumstances.<br />
<br />
To assist this, we will be asking all temporary teachers and related employees to attend Federation meetings (currently being held using various video and teleconferencing platforms) to alert Federation Representatives and Organisers of the status of your employment, so you can work with us to ensure the smooth facilitation of this new process/clause.<br />
<br />
While we are affected by physical isolation due to COVID-19, Federation will continue to make contact with members in different ways.<br />
<br />
We are currently conducting meetings via Zoom, Teams and Skype, and some Organisers will be attending TAFE colleges for one-on-one discussions with members while following physical distancing protocols.<br />
<br />
The union also relies on you, as a member, to pass this information on to colleagues who may not be members of Federation.<br />
<br />
It is important they are aware of their working conditions and have an opportunity to join the union to assist us in our important work of supporting you at work. If an employee doesn’t understand their entitlements, they are likely to undermine them. This can undermine everyone’s working conditions.<br />
<br />
It is important that every teacher in your workplace is a member of the NSW Teachers Federation.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10886178.post-73253685196797776812020-05-22T13:34:00.000+10:002020-05-22T13:34:05.590+10:00Message from Annie Butler, ANMF Federal Secretary<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Message from Annie Butler, ANMF Federal Secretary<br />
<br />
2020 – International Year of the Nurse & Midwife – this must be our year<br />
<br />
2020, the World Health Organisation designated International Year of the Nurse & Midwife, is our year.<br />
<br />
It is the year for our voices to be heard and for Australia’s politicians to recognise our value by investing in the nursing and midwifery workforce. Genuinely. Properly. Truly.<br />
<br />
It is not the year for more platitudes, lip service and ‘pats on the back’ in lieu of genuine recognition of nurses’ and midwives’ work and honest, meaningful support for that work.<br />
<br />
It is the year to guarantee:<br />
<br />
Safe staffing ratios for nurses and midwives across every sector<br />
<br />
Safe environments in every place nurses & midwives work and an end to workplace violence<br />
Nurses & midwives are enabled to work to full capacity<br />
<br />
Urgent action on climate change and its devastating health effects, which could not be more critically needed than right now in the midst of Australia’s bushfire crisis.<br />
<br />
This will require politicians and governments to respond to the evidence before them and invest in staffing ratios in all sectors and in creating safe working environments across the country. It will require the expansion of nurse and midwife-led models of care that are innovative, increase access for all and lead to better health outcomes for communities and much better use of nurse practitioners working in proper jobs.<br />
<br />
It will require legislative and policy support to enable all nurses and midwives to work to their full scope of practice. And, it will require immediate action and an urgent, whole-of-government response to climate change.<br />
<br />
It will also require us, Australia’s nurses and midwives, to take action to make this happen. If we want our voices to be heard, then we have to speak up. We have to make sure that nurses and midwives are present and contributing at all levels of critical decision-making processes, from the patient’s bedside to national health taskforces and committees. We must not accept others imposing decisions on us without consultation.<br />
<br />
The evidence is behind us, our work is the proof of the difference nurses and midwives can make – this year must be our year to shine.<br />
<br />
The ANMF will be celebrating the work of nurses and midwives throughout 2020, with a series of national and ANMF Branch events and activities to be held across all states and territories. Stay tuned for regular updates here on the ANMF website and for more details on what’s happening in your state or territory go to your branch’s website.<br />
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10886178.post-45103370156742049562020-05-14T16:44:00.002+10:002020-05-14T16:44:53.169+10:00Acoss Media Release<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeroGxa_6y2ejs6x2JKM1yoMaAopiOq1Z7G7AS204KsXd0IYCUqtlggQfv3h_tSyGKidWXgY8ZdM3HQvKYi_2yz6xB2aqfLiGsjYNvfVfkd4mJgtGxpyligY7_f5adKgLUtydf/s1600/unnamed-1.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeroGxa_6y2ejs6x2JKM1yoMaAopiOq1Z7G7AS204KsXd0IYCUqtlggQfv3h_tSyGKidWXgY8ZdM3HQvKYi_2yz6xB2aqfLiGsjYNvfVfkd4mJgtGxpyligY7_f5adKgLUtydf/s320/unnamed-1.png" width="320" /></a><br />
<b>Jobs figures show importance of JobKeeper and new JobSeeker</b><br />
<br />
The April employment figures out today demonstrate the importance of a decent, secure safety net for people without paid employment, says the Australian Council of Social Service.<br />
<br />
“We’ve already seen the official unemployment rate rise to 6.2% in April and we know this would have been worse had the JobKeeper payment not been announced," ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie said.<br />
<br />
“Startlingly, 20% of people previously employed (2.7 million) became unemployed or had their hours reduced between March and April.<br />
<br />
“For people without a job, or those who need more hours, there is currently very little opportunity to find paid work. Not only is this financially distressing, the great uncertainty that people are going through deeply affects mental health.<br />
<br />
“People need security for the future and business needs confidence in order to be able to rebuild. That’s why it’s so important that the Government extends the new JobSeeker Payment until we have an income support system in place that protects people from living below the poverty line.<br />
<br />
“Under the compliance system before COVID19, people had to search for 20 jobs a month, participate in Work for the Dole and attend regular appointments with employment service providers under pain of losing their next payment.<br />
<br />
Payments were automatically suspended on the same day if someone didn’t attend a provider appointment regardless of the reason, and people had to contact their provider to get payments reinstated. In many cases, people weren’t even aware of the appointment. "This system was harsh, and caused a great deal of anxiety for people.<br />
<br />
This compliance system has been suspended since the lockdowns commenced.<br />
"Given the high level of anxiety among people who lack paid employment and have to rely on Jobseeker Payments, we welcome Employment Minister Cash’s announcement today that the suspension of activity requirements for Jobseeker Payment will continue at least until June 1, and that the Government will take account the scope of lockdowns and state of the labour market before reinstating it.<br />
<br />
"We call on the Government not to reinstate the harsh system that was in place before this crisis, and to work with employment service providers and representatives of people affected to redesign the system so that people can prepare and search for jobs, while feeding and housing themselves, with the certainty that their payments won’t suddenly be suspended," Dr Goldie said.<br />
<br />
Media contact: Australian Council of Social Service, 0419 626 155</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10886178.post-32462451262770436642020-05-14T11:24:00.001+10:002020-05-14T11:24:14.851+10:00CPSU -- AUSTRALIA POST’S NON BARGAINING PROPOSAL<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The COVID-19 situation is rapidly and significantly changing work at Australia Post. From work health and safety and working from home, Australia Post’s ‘Request to Take Leave’ and now bargaining for your future pay and conditions.<br />
<br />
Australia Post management have put forward an unappealing proposal for your future pay and entitlements in lieu of the standard enterprise bargaining process. We need to explain this proposal to you, listen to your feedback and discuss what approach you would like us to take. To do this we have scheduled Australia-wide briefings for all Australia Post staff members to attend via Zoom teleconference due to current government policy.<br />
<br />
How will it work?<br />
<br />
We will run six 30 minute all staff member Zoom meetings to attend in their own time. We’re spreading them over three days so everybody has the chance to find a time that suits.<br />
<br />
Registration is essential, so please register ASAP only for the session you intend to participate in. Once you register you will be able to dial in via your Zoom application or like a regular phone call.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10886178.post-42200102903991851862020-05-14T11:19:00.001+10:002020-05-14T11:19:27.751+10:00ASU Federal Government has recklessly changed the law<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The Federal Government has recklessly changed the law to reduce the usual time for voting on enterprise agreements from seven days down to one.<br />
<br />
Big business has been asking for this for weeks.<br />
<br />
One day is not enough time for workers to contact their union, consult with their colleagues or speak with their families about big decisions about their hours and pay.<br />
<br />
It’s unfair and unnecessary.<br />
<br />
Secretary of Australian Unions, Sally McManus said, “These changes will allow employers to ram through reductions in pay and undermine job security.”<br />
<br />
If you are on an Enterprise Agreement and you are told about a change or a vote – call us immediately on 02 9310 4000 or email help@asu.org.au.<br />
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10886178.post-43188972446697219972020-05-13T15:04:00.002+10:002020-05-13T15:04:49.005+10:00AMWU APPLAUDS KENWORTH TRUCKS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
UNION APPLAUDS KENWORTH TRUCKS CONTINUING TO PAY EMPLOYEES DURING TEMPORARY SHUT DOWN<br />
<br />
Workers at Kenworth Trucks in Bayswater, Victoria will return to work today after spending the last three and a half weeks, from March 25, at home with pay while the worksite was reconfigured to make social distancing easier.<br />
<br />
The Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU) welcomed the move to continue paying permanent employees as an example of businesses and workers being in the COVID-19 crisis together.<br />
<br />
“This is what doing the right thing looks like,” said David Smith, AMWU Assistant National Secretary.<br />
<br />
“Workplace health and safety has to be a priority but doing that during these unprecedented times should not come at the cost of workers being able to pay their bills.”<br />
<br />
Steve Kearney, a motor mechanic by trade, is an AMWU delegate at Kenworth. Along with his fellow delegate, he’s been consulting with Kenworth HR on the workplace changes.<br />
<br />
“‘When we heard about the temporary closure we were concerned they’d make people use their leave and not everyone has a lot of leave available, but then we were told they’d paying us for the period of the shut down,” said Steve.<br />
<br />
“The feedback I got from members was that they felt relieved. They were glad Kenworth was trying to do the right thing about safely social distancing and that wasn’t going to come out of their pockets.”<br />
<br />
As well as introducing additional safety measures, Kenworth have also implemented an afternoon shift to add further distance between workers.<br />
<br />
“I put my hand up for an afternoon shift, that’s what I was on when I started here and I like it. So far it’s just been workers volunteering to take up that shift and the people I’ve spoken to so far were also happy to put their hand up for it,” said Steve.<br />
<br />
“We were actually due to start ramping up production before the crisis hit and so far it seems like Kenworth are doing everything they can to get us back to work with proper social distancing and protections. We’ll keep working with Kenworth to prioritise safety and keep us operating. There’s definitely still plenty of work to be done.”</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10886178.post-2486086239921767222020-05-13T10:44:00.000+10:002020-05-13T10:44:07.710+10:00MEAA Today is World Press Freedom Day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>Today is World Press Freedom Day but there is little for us to celebrate here in Australia.</b><br />
<b>The police raids in June last year on the home of a News Corp journalist and the ABC offices in Sydney were a wake up call to the wider Australian public that our nation’s reputation as a healthy democracy is now at risk because of growing attacks and restrictions on public interest journalism and the right to know.</b><br />
<br />
On World Press Freedom Day, MEAA is calling for serious reforms to reverse a raft of ‘national security’ laws that can be used to criminalise journalism and punish whistleblowers for telling the truth, and which have sent Australia backwards on press freedom.<br />
<br />
MEAA has been cataloguing the deterioration of press freedom in an annual report for 15 years. This year’s report is aptly named The War on Journalism, and much space is devoted to analysing how we got to a place where police are raiding journalists’ homes and offices.<br />
<br />
These raids were the culmination of almost 20 years of parliament legislating sweeping powers in the name of ‘national security’ which enable government agencies to reach into our homes and offices, into our phones and computers, and intrude into our lives in an effort to control the possession and flow of information.<br />
<br />
These laws allow governments to hide information from public view and punish those who reveal that information. This cloak is also being used to shield the governments from embarrassment.<br />
<br />
As a member of the Your Right to Know campaign with major publishers and broadcasters, MEAA is advocating reforms to restore the balance of freedom of information and expression versus the needs of national security. The reforms are:<br />
<br />
• The right to contest the application for warrants for journalists and media organisations;<br />
• Exemptions for journalists from laws that would put them in jail for doing their jobs, including security laws enacted over the last seven years;<br />
• Public sector whistleblowers must be adequately protected – the current law needs to change;<br />
• A new regime that limits which documents can be stamped secret;<br />
• A properly functioning freedom of information (FOI) regime; and<br />
• Defamation law reform.<br />
<br />
Journalists are not above the law but bad laws must be reformed if freedom of expression, and press freedom, is to be upheld.<br />
<br />
At stake is not just Australia’s reputation but also our ability to function as a healthy democracy that respects the human rights of its people.<br />
<br />
On World Press Freedom Day, we also call for the release of all imprisoned journalists around the world who are in detention for shining the light on public-interest information that governments would rather keep secret, including MEAA members Julian Assange and Yang Hengjun.<br />
<br />
The War on Journalism: the MEAA Report into the State of Press Freedom in Australia in 2020 is available at pressfreedom.org.au</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10886178.post-67931800668374591222020-05-13T10:40:00.003+10:002020-05-13T10:40:54.941+10:00ACTU Australian Unions call for 2 million new secure jobs<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Australian Unions call for 2 million new secure jobs and halving of job insecurity to rebuild economy<br />
<br />
Rebuilding jobs and our economy beyond the COVID-19 health crisis<br />
The peak body for working people in Australia has released a comprehensive blueprint for rebuilding the economy and restoring jobs in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.<br />
<br />
The ACTU’s eight-point plan has called for the creation of two million new secure jobs and the halving of job insecurity to be set as a target for rebuilding the Australian economy. The plan aims to harness the spirit of cooperation between Australian governments, business, and civil society that has guided our response to the crisis to ensure we rebuild in a way that delivers a better and fairer Australia.<br />
<br />
COVID-19 has revealed fault-lines in our economy that must be addressed as we look to rebuild.<br />
<br />
Thirty years of neoliberal trickle-down economics have led to rising inequality, an erosion of the social safety-net, record-low wage growth, and too many people in insecure employment or without enough work.<br />
<br />
Quotes attributable to ACTU President Michele O’Neil:<br />
<br />
“We need to rebuild the Australian economy and society and make jobs more secure. Setting a goal of creating two million new secure jobs and halving job insecurity in Australia can drive an economy wide rebuilding effort and lift the living standards of millions of working people.<br />
<br />
“These 8 guiding principles will help shape a rebuilding effort that puts people in more secure jobs, gets wage growth going again, ensures Australia is making what we need, putting our national interests above any vested corporate interests and investing in our communities.<br />
<br />
“We look forward to working with governments, employers and communities to develop the programs Australia needs to rebuild and make jobs more secure.<br />
<br />
“We cannot allow the economy to go back to the way it was before: rising inequality, record low wage growth, a gutted social safety-net and public services, and too many people in insecure employment or without enough work.<br />
<br />
“If a disaster destroys your house, you don’t rebuild in all the old cracks and flaws – you rebuild with improvements, you fix the things you know were wrong and you make your home even better than it was before.<br />
<br />
“We must rebuild our economy and our communities so they work for all Australians.”<br />
<br />
Our eight-point principles for the post-pandemic rebuild are:<br />
<br />
1. Improve the quality and security of jobs by creating 2 million new permanent jobs and halving the number of insecure jobs.<br />
<br />
Ending forced casualisation, outsourcing, offshoring, continuous rolling contracts and over-use of labour hire.<br />
<br />
2. Lift wages and living standards<br />
<br />
Money in workers’ pockets drives business, creates jobs and lifts living standards.<br />
<br />
3. Strengthen and invest in public and community services that are our first line of defence against ‘shocks’ like COVID-19, bushfires and drought<br />
<br />
Strong healthy communities and strong public services create a strong Australia.<br />
<br />
4. Support nation-building projects that create decent jobs and set Australia up for a brighter future<br />
<br />
Building for the future provides jobs, training and incomes today and tomorrow. Investment in infrastructure, manufacturing and service industries.<br />
<br />
5. Education and training<br />
<br />
Rebuilding our domestic skills and training system with public investments in schools, TAFE and higher education will ensure working people are able to meet the demands of work in the post-COVID world.<br />
<br />
6. Deal with the crisis of climate change<br />
<br />
Reduce emissions, improve energy efficiency, restore the environment. Support existing industries and create new jobs in industries embracing new energy technologies.<br />
<br />
7. Improve social, health and economic outcomes for people and communities that experience disadvantage<br />
<br />
Improve and increase public and community services and income support payments. Tax reform needs to be targeted at ensuring corporations are paying their fair share for the services and support every Australian needs.<br />
<br />
8. Embrace industry policy and ‘Australian made’.<br />
<br />
If we can make it or provide it here and create jobs here then we should make it or provide it here. Trade must deliver for our national interest, deals that give away our sovereignty, jobs, and undermine household incomes should not feature in our post-pandemic future.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10886178.post-30212735104340946272020-05-12T16:13:00.001+10:002020-05-12T16:13:13.467+10:00NSW Teachers Federation Vale Jack Mundey<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Vale Jack Mundey (1929-2020)<br />
May 11, 2020<br />
<br />
Jack Mundey, the union leader who inspired generations of activists to build a modern environmental movement, died last night, aged 90.<br />
<br />
Jack, as the Secretary of the NSW Builders Labourers’ Federation (BLF), came into prominence in the early 1970s in an era of a massive building boom when developers were intent on destroying urban green spaces and huge swathes of historical Sydney. From a fledging start when Jack led his union to protect a small parcel of land on Sydney Harbour called Kelly’s Bush, a movement with international ramifications was created.<br />
<br />
It was based around a simple yet profound concept. His union would place an industrial ban on unwanted development only after the local community approached the union and supported such a ban. Importantly, the members of the union at the site would then vote to endorse the ban. Jack would famously quip to a journalist that it wasn’t a traditional “black ban” but a “green ban”, and thus a movement was born.<br />
<br />
At their height, the Green Bans protected communities from billions of dollars of ugly development that had created concrete jungles in so many cities around the world. For cities such as Sydney it meant the protection of the historical Rocks area around Sydney Harbour, which had been destined to be razed and replaced with massive concrete and glass towers. Inner city suburbs such as Glebe were protected by the Green Bans after plans were created to bulldoze motorways through their heart.<br />
<br />
From Sydney, the movement spread to regional areas, to other Australian cities, and to other countries.<br />
<br />
The NSW BLF created a huge social movement that linked together so many disparate political struggles – it protected low-income housing for workers, fought for women to be accepted into male-dominated industries, placed a Green Ban on Macquarie University after one its colleges had denied accommodation for a gay student, stopped development in places such as Centennial Park, and exposed the corrupt links between politicians and developers. Importantly, the Green Bans empowered ordinary citizens to band together and act in the interests of the community.<br />
<br />
While the NSW BLF had support from one allied building union, the NSW Federated Engine Drivers and Firemen’s Association (FEDFA), there were attempts to isolate the NSW BLF within the union movement at the time. Importantly, therefore, it is worth noting that the NSW Teachers Federation was the first union outside the building industry to recognise what the NSW BLF was campaigning for and to endorse formally the Greens Bans movement.<br />
<br />
The Green Bans heavily influenced others in the international environmental movement. Petra Kelly, the famous German anti-nuclear activist on a visit to Australia, was so inspired by the Green Ban movement, that upon her return to German she created the world’s first Greens political party.<br />
<br />
The struggle to build the Green Bans movement was difficult and opposed by powerful and vested interests. Jack was the subject of countless death threats, and developers with close links to some politicians worked to undermine the union while encouraging conservative media commentators to rail against the BLF and its leadership. Yet, over time, the Green Bans captured the imagination of the public leading eventually to significant legislation at a state and federal level designed to protect natural and urban environments.<br />
<br />
Eventually, Jack and other leaders of the NSW BLF, were illegally removed from office after developers had colluded with corrupt federal officials. But the Green Ban movement had, by then, a life of its own. A small union consisting of labourers on building sites had shown the world that ordinary people can build a grass-roots democratic movement and by doing so challenge power and wealth in ways that until then had never been imagined.<br />
<br />
On a personal level, Jack had rejected his Catholic faith as a young adult and had joined the Communist Party of Australia (CPA) in 1955. But throughout his life, he worked to build broad alliances and to work with disparate groups and individuals. Jack could never be accused of being doctrinaire. As he once wrote: “My dream, and that of hundreds of thousands, or millions, of others might come true: a socialist world with a human face, an ecological heart and an egalitarian body.”<br />
<br />
The NSW Teachers Federation expresses its condolences to Jack’s partner, Judy, as well as to his wider family, friends and close comrades.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10886178.post-82017244398653056412020-05-12T16:07:00.004+10:002020-05-12T16:07:56.030+10:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzHY0J7O5pBH64kgr4NLRwal4m7vUeCtxBjldPeKuJ6XzpAgE6Iy-v9OkymJf4zv4hdHaDGvxwjwbGlR0sePJKgOv_XRH18BMHP2OjZUKJYmoSV51qhhRklTimZHOgjEXA-f98/s1600/2020-MEAA-Press-Freedom-report-cover-FINAL-L-scaled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzHY0J7O5pBH64kgr4NLRwal4m7vUeCtxBjldPeKuJ6XzpAgE6Iy-v9OkymJf4zv4hdHaDGvxwjwbGlR0sePJKgOv_XRH18BMHP2OjZUKJYmoSV51qhhRklTimZHOgjEXA-f98/s320/2020-MEAA-Press-Freedom-report-cover-FINAL-L-scaled.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10886178.post-43751208053265845252020-05-12T15:59:00.001+10:002020-05-12T16:04:11.710+10:00ACTU -- Vale Jack Mundey<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Statement attributable to ACTU Secretary Sally McManus:<br />
<br />
The union movement is devastated to hear of the passing of Jack Mundey and we offer our condolences to Judy, family and his comrades.<br />
<br />
Jack changed the face and direction of unionism in our country and was part of transforming the status and jobs of “brickies” into jobs with rights and respect.<br />
<br />
Jack lead the NSW BLF from 1968 to 1975 and under his leadership pioneered the “green bans” movement forming alliances with local residents to save the environment, our heritage and to stand up to injustice.<br />
<br />
Because of Jack’s leadership bushland around Sydney was saved, from local pockets to the botanical gardens. Low income housing was saved, as was important heritage areas such as The Rocks. If it were not for Jack’s union these parts of Sydney would have been demolished by developers.<br />
<br />
The BLF also initiated the first “pink ban” refusing building works at Macquarie University in solidarity with the dismissal of a gay academic.<br />
<br />
The members of Jack’s union won significant increases in pay, workplace safety and working conditions, despite the opposition of powerful developers and Governments. Jack was an extremely principled leader who adhered to highly democratic practices and a belief in maximum terms for elected leaders. What was achieved during the relatively short time of his leadership by the union was remarkable.<br />
<br />
Whilst Jack’s achievements have been celebrated by the establishment today with even a street named after him in The Rocks, he and his union came under sustained attack at the time from those in power.<br />
<br />
Jack believed in the broader collective achievement of the working class and aspired to a better world for all.<br />
<br />
Vale to a man who reshaped Australian union history, whose legacy is there for all to see in the beauty of Sydney and whose principles shone through until the end.<br />
<br />
<b>Jack Mundey's Song</b><br />
<br />
During Mundey's visit to Liverpool in the UK Jack was met by veteran Union Organiser Pete Carter who handed him a song composed in his honour to the tune of "The Wild Colonial Boy".<br />
<br />
<i>It's of a wild colonial boy, Jack Mundey is his name.</i><br />
<i>A building workers' leader from Australia he came.</i><br />
<i>He said you lads in Birmingham can beat the bosses plan;</i><br />
<i>Do like we did in Sydney - just put on the old green ban.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>That means you fight for wages, but you fight for something more-</i><br />
<i>Not only for the right to work - but what you're working for!</i><br />
<i>A place that's fit to live in, where your kids can thrive and grow,</i><br />
<i>And not a concrete jungle where you scurry to and fro.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>The greedy men of property have knocked old 'Brum" around</i><br />
<i>Broad Street, Bull Ring, Aston Cross - they've razed it to the ground;</i><br />
<i>Put up skyscraper tombstones where a working city once stood</i><br />
<i>But there is still time to call a halt, hold on to what is good.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>So listen to Jack Mundey when he says 'Green bans are beaut'!</i><br />
<i>A Green ban on Victoria Square will surely bear some fruit.</i><br />
<i>If you can win the Post Office, you lads of high renown,</i><br />
<i>You'll win the right to take the fight to every part of town.</i><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10886178.post-74644332698931373942020-05-12T15:56:00.001+10:002020-05-12T15:56:08.136+10:00ANMF celebrates International Nurses Day 2020<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Tuesday 12th May, 2020<br />
<br />
On International Nurses Day (IND) this year, the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF), the proud union of more than 285,000 nurses, midwives and aged care workers, is celebrating the work ANMF members do every day for every Australian.<br />
<br />
ANMF Federal Secretary Annie Butler says that IND has a special and increased significance this year, both because 2020 is the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared International Year of the Nurse and Midwife and because of the prominent role nurses have played around the globe during the COVID-19 pandemic.<br />
<br />
“IND is always important to our union, as is International Midwives’ Day (5 May) and is traditionally a day when we celebrate nurses’ work and its impact on the health of our communities. However, this year, with a world disrupted by the global coronavirus pandemic and governments scrambling to save lives, a job we have done very well in Australia, the critical importance of nurses’ work to the health of our communities has never been clearer,” Ms Butler said today.<br />
<br />
“Nurses around the globe have been at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19. From the onset of the outbreak in Australia, nursing organisations were centrally involved in implementing key health strategies to contain COVID-19 while thousands of nurses immediately volunteered to assist in whatever way they could. The desire to help and the courage and compassion of nurses on the frontline doing the best for their communities have been demonstrated in every country across the world.<br />
<br />
“Sadly, this extraordinary effort has come at considerable cost, with hundreds of nurses around the world losing their lives to COVID-19. We have been very fortunate in this regard in Australia, but we want to honour the sacrifice of our global nursing colleagues on this IND. The ANMF, in collaboration with the New Zealand Nurses’ Organisation, will tonight hold an online candlelight vigil at 7pm (AEST) to commemorate the dedication of our lost colleagues to caring for their patients and residents.<br />
<br />
“Nurses’ extraordinary commitment and dedication for those in their care has definitely been highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. But what we’re seeing in these extraordinary times is in fact what nurses, and midwives and care-workers, do every day, in every circumstance, for those in their care. Nursing is always extraordinary work, but in normal times, it is often less visible.<br />
<br />
“This is one of the main reasons the WHO has declared this year as the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife. The need to raise the profile of nursing and midwifery around the globe, underpins the WHO’s declaration because it recognises that this will lead to greater gender equality, stronger economies and healthier communities for all nations. To do this requires real investment and political commitment.<br />
<br />
“While this year’s aim is to increase global focus on nurses and recognition from politicians, the community has always understood the impact of nursing. Every member of the community has been touched by the care and compassion of a nurse, midwife or care-worker.<br />
<br />
“So for this year’s IND, in these extraordinary times, a number of well-known, much loved Australian celebrities, including Missy Higgins, Hamish and Andy, Magda Szubanski, Marcia Hines and others have joined us to share their stories and thank nurses and midwives for the care they have received and the lasting impact nurses and midwives have made to their lives.”<br />
<br />
To watch the International Nurses Day video and the COVID-19 Nurses Vigil, go to the ANMF’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AustralianNursingandMidwiferyFederation/<br />
<br />
<br />
ANMF media release authorised by Annie Butler, ANMF Federal Secretary. 1/365 Queen St, Melbourne.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10886178.post-16616024249741736622019-12-15T17:11:00.004+11:002019-12-15T17:11:45.492+11:00George Monbiot and UK Election<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMB-C_-njmE-TxMruMak4pIKx2gbQ-tYEKHHkje6fmz0LsgLwmvKPmXyDJC86vpMkXTCesf5w6USi9g99JPf4wz0TXRJcanhIQQdoqZ5VD2M2J3VSe_pRHz3TmYG_bAFrCYeJS/s1600/4734.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMB-C_-njmE-TxMruMak4pIKx2gbQ-tYEKHHkje6fmz0LsgLwmvKPmXyDJC86vpMkXTCesf5w6USi9g99JPf4wz0TXRJcanhIQQdoqZ5VD2M2J3VSe_pRHz3TmYG_bAFrCYeJS/s1600/4734.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Yes, it’s dark. Darker, arguably, than at any point since the second world war. We have a government not of conservatives but of the radical right, who will now seek to smash the remaining restraints on capital and those who accumulate it. They will take their sledgehammers to our public services and our public protections. They cheated and lied to assist their victory; they will cheat and lie even more to implement their programme.<br />
<br />
They are led by a man who has expressed overtly racist views, who won’t hesitate to stir up bigotry and xenophobia whenever he runs into trouble, scapegoating immigrants, Muslims, Romany Gypsies and Travellers, the poor and the weak.<br />
<br />
They will revel in outrage and affront, using every attack on common decency to normalise the unacceptable. This government has no vision for the country, only a vision for the oligarchs to whom it is bound, onshore and offshore.<br />
<br />
Labour won’t win again until it works out why it lost<br />
<br />
So I don’t want to minimise the scale and horror of what we face. But documenting it is one task; the other is resisting it. Here, roughly and briefly, is an outline of how we might begin. I am as tired and shocked and frazzled as you are, so please forgive me if I have missed some essential elements.<br />
<br />
First, we must park the recriminations and blame. We need to be fully occupied fighting the government and its backers, not fighting each other. Solidarity is going to be crucial over the coming months. We should seek, wherever possible, to put loyalty to party and faction aside, and work on common resolutions to a crisis afflicting everyone who wants a kinder, fairer, greener nation.<br />
<br />
All the progressive manifestos I’ve read – Labour, Green, SNP, Liberal Democrat, Plaid Cymru – contain some excellent proposals.<br />
<br />
Let’s extract the best of them, and ideas from many other sources, and build an alliance around them. There will be differences, of course. But there will also be positions that almost everyone who believes in justice can accept.<br />
<br />
I believe we need to knit these proposals into the crucial missing element in modern progressive politics: a restoration story<br />
<br />
I believe we need to knit these proposals into the crucial missing element in modern progressive politics: a restoration story. A powerful new narrative is the vehicle for all political transformations. While all the progressive parties in the UK have proposed good policies, none of them have told a story that exactly fits the successful narrative template. Let’s work together to craft the story of change.<br />
<br />
We should use the new story, and the proposals this narrative vehicle carries, to build mass resistance movements, taking inspiration from – and building on – highly effective mobilisations such as the youth climate strikes. We will draw strength from the movements in other nations, and support them in turn.<br />
<br />
A major part of this resistance, I believe, must be the reclamation of a culture of public learning. Acquiring useful knowledge requires determined study. Yet we have lost the habit of rigorous learning in adulthood, once seen as crucial to social justice. This makes us vulnerable to every charlatan who stands for election, and every lie they amplify through the billionaire press and social media.<br />
<br />
Those who govern us would love to keep us in ignorance. When they deride “elites”, they don’t mean people like themselves – the rich and powerful.<br />
<br />
They mean teachers and intellectuals. They are creating an anti-intellectual culture, to make people easier to manipulate. Let’s reinvigorate the workers’ education movements. Let’s restore a rich public culture of intellectual self-improvement, open to everyone. Knowledge is the most powerful tool in politics.<br />
<br />
We must expose every lie, every trick this government will play, using social media as effectively as possible. We must use every available tool to investigate its financial relationships, interests and strategies. We should use the courts to sue and prosecute malfeasance whenever we can.<br />
<br />
We will create, to the greatest extent possible, a resistance economy. This means local cooperative networks of mutual support, which circulate social and material wealth within the community. The astonishing work of Participatory City, with Barking and Dagenham council in London, shows us one way of doing this.<br />
<br />
We will find each other and ourselves through volunteering, which provides the most powerful known defence against loneliness and alienation, helps support the people this government will abandon, and can defend and rebuild the living world.<br />
<br />
We will throw everything we have into defending our public services – especially the NHS – from the government’s attempts to degrade or destroy them. There will be many public service failures over the coming years, as a result of cuts and “restructuring”.<br />
<br />
Let’s remember where blame for these failures will lie: not with the massively stressed and overloaded practitioners, but with those who made their jobs impossible. The long-standing strategy of governments such as this is to degrade these services until we become exasperated with them, whereupon, lacking public support, they can be broken up and privatised. Don’t fall for it. Defend the overworked heroes who keep them afloat.<br />
<br />
No one person should attempt all these things. We will divide up the tasks, but always in the knowledge that we’re working together, with mutual support through the darkest of times. Love and courage to you all.<br />
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10886178.post-39059571282171039802019-12-15T10:54:00.003+11:002019-12-15T10:56:30.749+11:00MEAA – Journalists cannot and will not reveal their sources<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h2 class="print-title" style="border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #777777; font-family: SourceSansPro; font-size: 30px; font-weight: 100; line-height: 40px; margin: 2px 0px 5px; padding: 2px 0px;">
</h2>
<div class="meta" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(247, 247, 247); border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(247, 247, 247); border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #777777; font-family: SourceSansPro; margin: 8px 0px; padding: 5px 8px; text-transform: uppercase;">
<span class="icon-calendar" style="background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-family: "fontawesome"; height: auto; line-height: normal; margin-left: 3px; margin-top: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration: inherit; top: -2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b> THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12TH, 2019 <span class="icon-folder-open" style="background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-family: "fontawesome"; height: auto; line-height: normal; margin-left: 3px; margin-top: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration: inherit; top: -2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"></span>#MEAAMEDIA #PRESSFREEDOM FEATURED NEWS</b></span><span style="font-size: 11px;"><b> </b></span><span class="pull-right" style="border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; float: right; font-size: 11px;"></span></div>
<br /><div style="border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: SourceSansPro; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px;">
</div>
<div style="border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: sourcesanspro; line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A current defamation claim in the Federal Court is seeking to compel two senior investigative journalists to reveal their confidential sources. The claim involves multiple Walkley Award-winning journalists Nick McKenzie and Chris Masters – both members of MEAA – over a story they wrote alleging a war crimes incident in Afghanistan in 2012.</span></div>
<div style="border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: sourcesanspro; line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">MEAA Media federal president Marcus Strom says: “MEAA backs our members who are obliged to adhere to the <span style="border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c88bf;"><a href="https://www.meaa.org/meaa-media/code-of-ethics/" style="border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c88bf; text-decoration: none;">MEAA <em style="border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; box-sizing: border-box;">Journalist Code of Ethics</em></a></span>. Clause 3 of the Code says that confidences made to a journalist's source must be respected in all circumstances. There is no higher principle for journalists the world over.</span></div>
<div style="border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: sourcesanspro; line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">“Journalists have been have been found guilty of contempt and jailed for maintaining this ethical principle. But they have not revealed the identity of their confidential source. To do so would be a betrayal of trust. It would have a chilling effect on journalism because whistleblowers would think twice about telling the truth if their identity is exposed.</span></div>
<div style="border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: sourcesanspro; line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">“The principle of journalists’ privilege is already enshrined in Commonwealth ‘shield’ laws that protect journalists from being compelled by a court to name their sources. Shield laws exist in many countries around the world. To discard the shield at a time when the public’s right to know is already under assault would further damage press freedom in Australia,” Strom says.</span></div>
<div style="border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: sourcesanspro; line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">“It is pointless to pursue this path in court because the outcome is already known: journalists cannot and will not reveal their confidential sources,” Strom says.</span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10886178.post-86310772358833201512019-12-15T10:47:00.003+11:002019-12-15T10:47:39.109+11:00Sydney’s Light Rail Fiasco<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7aBb-_8DoZv5HRxPDH7XAXqiSV5vfgO_yGt5KWeQTsOpICiCrsuD-wjCF5l593AEgD5pS8oykkG7S9cIeB8-orPb3-8pfk1nNWtZQN-UwNS-3pbbWgx8nz2bFYxzZCAz1HQrb/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7aBb-_8DoZv5HRxPDH7XAXqiSV5vfgO_yGt5KWeQTsOpICiCrsuD-wjCF5l593AEgD5pS8oykkG7S9cIeB8-orPb3-8pfk1nNWtZQN-UwNS-3pbbWgx8nz2bFYxzZCAz1HQrb/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" /></a></div>
<br />
Sydney’s CBD and South East Light Rail project has turned into an urban construction nightmare featuring delays, cost overruns and a bitter legal dispute with a major subcontractor. Is the project a case of political point-scoring overriding commercial sense and technical reality?<br />
<br />
Light rail systems have the potential to help solve some of the major problems that spring up in the world’s increasingly busy cities. Trams can provide a fast and reliable option for travellers taking short trips, while offering the possibility of viably pedestrianising key streets to reduce congestion, revitalise the local economy and cut inner-city carbon emissions, all of which are high on the agenda for urban policymakers.<br />
<br />
But while the potential benefits are enticing, light rail projects such as trams and monorails are notoriously complex to plan and pull off, particularly in densely-packed urban centres, and the eventual benefits often don’t meet the lofty expectations set at a project’s outset. The tendency for troubled, underwhelming light rail projects to fall flat is prevalent enough that it even got a high-profile pop culture mention courtesy of The Simpsons in the early 90s: the show’s ‘Marge vs the Monorail’ episode sees the town of Springfield hoodwinked by a slick scam artist into spending lavishly on an unnecessary monorail system, with amusingly disastrous results.<br />
<br />
In the real world, the consequences of failed or ill-conceived light rail projects aren’t a good source of laughs. With huge investments on the line and long periods of inconvenience for commuters and small businesses while districts are re-configured for light rail operations, air-tight planning is essential to keep work schedules on track and budgets under control.<br />
<br />
In Sydney, the ongoing construction of the CBD and South East Light Rail project, which will connect the city’s central business district (CBD) with the suburbs of Randwick and Kingsford, is today acting as an unfortunate showcase of the risks of urban light rail development and the paramount importance of rigorous planning.<br />
<br />
The CBD and South East Light Rail project was first announced in December 2012, consisting of a 12.5km, 19-stop tram line between Circular Quay and the CBD before splitting into two branches terminating at Randwick and Kingsford. The plan was sold to Sydneysiders as an effective, high-capacity means of cutting traffic congestion on the economically vital George Street, 40% of which will be pedestrianised under the plan. The then-Transport Minister for New South Wales (NSW) Gladys Berejiklian, who became the state’s Premier in 2017, warned at the time that traffic congestion in the CBD would “only get worse” without quick action.<br />
<br />
“With the introduction of light rail and the redesigned bus network announced today, we will be able to significantly reduce the number of buses clogging the city’s streets and provide fast and reliable links for people to key destinations like the Prince of Wales Hospital, University of NSW, SCG, Allianz Stadium, Moore Park, Central and Circular Quay,” Berejiklian said in 2012.Fast-forward to today and the project is beset with issues. The original completion date for the project was set at March 2019, but a host of technical and legal issues has seen this date pushed back by a year to March 2020. Berejiklian said in August that the government is working “pedal to the metal” to bring the deadline forward to December 2019, while statements made by the project’s Spanish subcontractor Acciona – part of the ALTRAC Light Rail Partnership responsible for the project – put the completion date even further out, at May 2020.<br />
<br />
The project’s budget has also ballooned by A$500m, from A$1.6bn at its outset to an estimated A$2.1bn today. The cost increase has prompted the NSW Government to provide a guarantee for $500m in private sector loans.<br />
<br />
Last month, Reserve Bank of Australia governor Philip Lowe highlighted the project as an example of inadequate oversight of infrastructure projects.<br />
<br />
“I live in Randwick, so I am living with that substandard governance continuously with the tram,” Lowe said.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10886178.post-38518231156219040562019-12-14T15:32:00.001+11:002019-12-14T15:34:49.600+11:00Firefighter writes passionate letter to Morrison<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCLZhARDLEjol_Nj9A62eEcE4ybF3Gc878al98MQS1ChGLlw0cN3ugygCD_jsbUNTC5gSwGdv_C_zvuM-Pfvz96Owq14bdYOCnEHxKOKKdlon6s4niZkxEPcsS42S5m1aUhuDT/s1600/16x9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCLZhARDLEjol_Nj9A62eEcE4ybF3Gc878al98MQS1ChGLlw0cN3ugygCD_jsbUNTC5gSwGdv_C_zvuM-Pfvz96Owq14bdYOCnEHxKOKKdlon6s4niZkxEPcsS42S5m1aUhuDT/s1600/16x9.jpeg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="row" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="meta article__meta" style="-webkit-box-align: center; -webkit-box-pack: justify; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; align-items: center; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(43, 43, 43); color: #2b2b2b; display: flex; font-family: "Roboto Condensed"; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; justify-content: space-between; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 630px; min-height: 1px; padding: 30px 0px; position: relative; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; white-space: normal; width: 630px; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="article__meta__byline" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Condensed"; text-transform: uppercase;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><div class="meta__item article__meta-date" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block;">
</div>
</span></div>
</div>
Firefighter Chris Nicholls has posted a passionate and heartfelt plea to Scott Morrison in an online letter which has gone viral, urging the government to take urgent action and stop offering prayers.</div>
<div class="row" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="article__abstract column" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 630px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 630px;">
<div class="text-abstract" style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<div class="text-abstract__content" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px;">
</div>
<div class="text-body" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(43, 43, 43); color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Roboto, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-top: 30px;">
<div style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<div style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 30px;">
He is urging all levels of government to treat it as a national emergency.</div>
<div class="dfp is-loaded" data-module="dfp_module" data-slot-id="slot2" id="mod-dfp_module-1" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
<div id="article-titan-mobile-pos1" style="box-sizing: border-box;">
In a heartfelt open letter, Mr Nicholls calls for better planning, task forces, more resources for firefighters including communications technology, fire fighting aircraft and the pilots to fly them.</div>
<div id="article-titan-mobile-pos1" style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 30px;">
The letter was posted on his Facebook page and it has been shared more than 5000 times.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 30px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13.008px; font-weight: 700;">Chris Nicholls' letter:</span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 30px;">
Dear Prime Minister,</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 30px;">
I am writing to you as a member of the Far South Coast of NSW community, and as a bush firefighter with our local RFS Brigade.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 30px;">
You need to listen to me.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 30px;">
I swore that if I heard the word, "unprecedented" one more time I would write to you. I heard it again tonight in comments by experts over the mega-fire around Sydney. So, here's your letter.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 30px;">
There is one more thing that is 'unprecedented'. It's your Government's complete INACTION over the current bushfire emergency in Australia. And please don't tell me about the pathetic response so far with more thoughts and prayers from Hillsong. This is a NATIONAL EMERGENCY not a minor weather event.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 30px;">
We are not frantically impressed with these platitudes down here. When I see my colleagues from my brigade jump into a plane or a bus to take them up north in a strike team to go into battle against an unprecedented enemy of catastrophic proportions, I wonder if we might ever see them again. And they are my friends and wonderful people.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 30px;">
When my RFS pager goes off in the middle of a hot, blustery severe fire danger day and I have to rush off to a bushfire, and as I am sitting in the truck proceeding under sirens and lights to the fire, I wonder if this might be my last day too.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 30px;">
We don't have time for you to sit on your hands and wish us platitudes and cricket news.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 30px;">
Here's what we need you to do:</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 30px;">
1. Treat the situation as if it was a WAR being waged on Australia by an unpredictable enemy with considerable weaponry, capable of jumping front lines easily and attacking from several fronts simultaneously, with devastating results. It takes no prisoners.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 30px;">
2. Treat each event as a BATTLE and a part of the WAR.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 30px;">
3. Appoint a WAR cabinet with special powers to mobilise the country, the armed services and whatever resources are required to fight the battles to win the WAR.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 30px;">
4. The WAR is CLIMATE CHANGE, and the battles are fires, drought, intense weather events such as tropical cyclones and other climate-related phenomenon in the new normal of the climate-changed world.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 30px;">
5. The WAR is the long game - and will be fought over several decades into the future, so there needs to be planning and task forces and armies and technology and considerable ingenuity.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 30px;">
6. Support your people - the people of Australia: tell them the Government cares and is actually mobilising and doing something about it.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 30px;">
7. Do it, and let's worry about the platitudes some other day.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 30px;">
Yours sincerely</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 30px;">
Chris Nicholls, Merimbula, NSW</div>
</div>
</div>
<br />
<footer class="article__footer" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(43, 43, 43); clear: right; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Roboto, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><div class="footnote article__source" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Condensed"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.75; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-transform: uppercase;">
<span class="article__source__label" style="box-sizing: border-box;">SOURCE</span> SBS NEWS</div>
</footer></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10886178.post-26342262795131369392019-12-10T14:21:00.000+11:002019-12-10T14:21:06.963+11:00ACTU Supports action against targeted killings Philippines<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The Australian union movement stands with unionists in the Philippines who have become the target of frequent attacks, with 43 union members and officials being killed in the last three years. The ACTU is participating in a global day of action on Human Rights Day to draw attention to the treatment of unionists in the Philippines.<br />
<br />
The ITUC has named the Philippines as being one of the worst ten countries in the world for workers’ rights. Unionists and other activists have been labelled as terrorists and enemies of the state.<br />
<br />
Australia has a long-standing bilateral military relationship with the Philippines, including providing counter-terrorism capacity training. Despite the many reports of attacks by the armed forces of the Philippines against their own people, from 1 December 2019, Australia increased its support of Duterte’s military through the new Enhanced Defence Cooperation Program.<br />
<br />
<b>Quotes attributable to ACTU President Michele O’Neil:</b><br />
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>“We are taking part in this global day of action on Human Rights Day to demand that the Philippines government, led by President Duterte, stop the killing of unions and union activists.</li>
<li>“We are also calling on the Morrison government to stop enabling human rights violations in the Philippines – no Australian taxpayer money should be spent supporting a regime that routinely violates the rights of trade unionists, journalists and human rights defenders.”</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10886178.post-528611783078148272019-12-10T12:38:00.000+11:002019-12-10T14:15:38.438+11:00'It's nuts': Malcolm Turnbull condemns Coalition climate change deniers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihKaqbMzZ1sObwAWzjx0nZLCUe-m8Gq5xTrwyWq-h8XB504KFX7siGWuejk2bP0HtIAM_mzwqwFq259jfBTI0rNGXuo8EmW9uVkMDd0PqxBPwzVtRrsLoinH1eJaqzmr35et04/s1600/3454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihKaqbMzZ1sObwAWzjx0nZLCUe-m8Gq5xTrwyWq-h8XB504KFX7siGWuejk2bP0HtIAM_mzwqwFq259jfBTI0rNGXuo8EmW9uVkMDd0PqxBPwzVtRrsLoinH1eJaqzmr35et04/s1600/3454.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has criticised the Coalition saying it has a "fundamental problem in dealing with climate change" and its approach is being held to ransom by denialists within the party.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">He took aim at the negative influence of climate “deniers” during the ABC’s Q&A program on Monday night strongly expressing his discontent.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Now that the “climate change do-nothings are in power”, does Malcolm Turnbull regret not having stuck to his beliefs when he was Prime Minister? #QandA</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> “The Coalition has a fundamental problem in dealing with climate change because there is a group within the Liberal Party and the National Party who deny the reality of climate change,” he said.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">“The problem is people are treating, on the right, they are treating what should be a question of physics and science and economics and engineering as though it were an issue of religion and belief. And it’s nuts.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The former leader was asked about “climate change do-nothings” in the Coalition and whether he regretted not having “stuck to his beliefs” on taking action as prime minister.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">But Mr Turnbull defended his record citing his proposed policy National Energy Guarantee had “dared to address cutting emissions” and become “the lever that the insurgents used to blow up the government.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Malcolm Turnbull said the party is being held to ransom by climate change denialists within the party.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">He said Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg had both supported the doomed policy, dropped following Mr Turnbull’s downfall.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">“The government’s policy on climate is being held to ransom by a group of deniers within the party and in the media and other sections outside the Parliament,” he said.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Mr Turnbull said he had strived to deliver action on climate change and support the transition to renewable energy and a zero-emissions electricity sector.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">“The key is to get to zero-emissions electricity which we can do… that will result in more affordable and available energy,” he said.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The panel's climate debate also ventured into the severe bushfire conditions currently taking hold along Australia’s east coast.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Prime Minister Scott Morrison visited the NSW RFS in Wilberforce on Sunday</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">'Australians are paying the price': Scott Morrison under fire over bushfire emergency</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Mr Turnbull and fellow panellist opposition leader Anthony Albanese called for a national approach to fighting and preventing fires and dealing with the current crisis.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">"If it isn't a national security issue, what is? The national government has to provide leadership," Mr Turnbull said.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">"We do have to come together and recognise that this situation with fires is going to become worse.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">"That is the inevitable consequence of a hotter and drier climate. That means we need stronger and more coordinated responses."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Both Mr Turnbull and Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese acknowledged the link between climate change and the severity of bushfires raging across NSW and Queensland.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Mr Albanese said a greater response is needed and the national government should be providing leadership on these issues.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">"I wrote to Scott Morrison three weeks ago. He wrote back to me saying (a national response) wasn't required and that everything was in hand,"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">"Quite clearly it's not."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">"When it comes to our domestic emissions, there's a need to take strong action and have strong targets and we will do so and have mechanisms to drive that through," he said.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">"It's about a transition - making sure that people (in coal mining towns) have security and are looked after."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The Coalition has long defended its response to climate change saying it is acting to reduce emissions in line with global commitments in an economically responsible way.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">With additional reporting from AAP</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0