What was it about Work Choices that was so unpopular in Australia?

Answer 1

Well one good thing that may come out of it with labour in power we may not see such an exodus of Kiwis taking off to Australia - New Zealand may become the better choice

Answer 2

This is a really contentious question - everybody in Australia will have an answer!

The main problem was that your average person on the street really didn't know the full details of work choices. They got spin from the Government, spin from the Unions, with both sides glossing over some information.

It did do many good things - like putting brakes on some of the Union "powers" (for example, a Union official could walk into a company and ask to see their financial books, without giving notice or a reason - and if they didn't get to see them, if there were Union members, then they could close the site by going on strike - that power was removed under Work Choices).

Yes - there were employeers who took advantage of it. But when you look at it, they would have been trying to find loopholes under the old system too.

I've actually been a victim myself of being dismissed under a Work Choices guideline, however I've also read the entire document and there was a lot of very good things in there.

Basically - the idea was to make Australia's complex system of Awards into something that was simpler (and take it from me who works in HR/Recruitment - the Awards were hellish!).

Unfortunately, it was pushed too fast, and there was not enough consultation & thought given to some things.

The basic idea was very good - the execution needed work.

Answer 3

I think people are mixing up Work Choices and Dole payments.
Work Choices was about taking away working conditions that had been hard earned over many years and trying to head towards the American system.
Although it gave the upper end of the market room to negotiate higher pay etc. it removed any protection the lower end had and opened them up to be used and abused by employers who were too stupid to foster a good workforce.

aussie5468:
- There are thousands of "educated" dole bludgers at universities across Australia. You can buy an education but you can't buy intelligence. Some of the most successful people in business left school early.
- One way to encourage people off the dole is to make working for a living the better option. Paying less and removing conditions such as sick leave, annual leave and overtime is not how you encourage people back to work. Why would they want to work their **** off and get screwed over when they can get more money for doing nothing.
- If people were actually paid what they were worth then there would be alot of people currently in the top tax bracket who would be struggling to get by week to week and vice versa.
- I have worked my **** off all my life and get just as fed up with people who choose not to work as you but Work Choices affected the people who do put in but, unlike yourself, haven't had the opportunities to end up in a top line job.

I was probably a little quick calling you a goose but you come across as an ignorant, angry little man who has led a very sheltered life with no idea what it's like at the other end of the class scale.

Answer 4

Aussie 54 should be called yank 54,work place choices was about having no choice and about the working class losing what their forefathers fought for in terms of conditions in the work place-it is a system that if given the chance over a longer period of time will create the working poor like in the U.S.A and make the rich richer widening the gap even more between rich and poor.

Answer 5

To be in any way fair, WorkChoices relied on the altruism of the employers. Employers have never shown much in the way of altruism. It was this lack that led to the formation of the labour unions in the 19th century. The Liberal party emasculated the unions first and then brought in Work Choices. Fortunately, the people understood what was happening and kicked Little Lying Johnny out.

Answer 6

It was open slather for employers to exploit young and less well educated workers. "Choices" was a flat lie. There was no choice involved and people knew it. It was the final straw that got rid of one the most openly racist, hypocritical, mendacious and stupid governments this country has had, certainly since the 1940s. I hope they are in opposition for 22 years or until they learn that their so-called "reforms" were really regressions to the 19th century.

Unfortunately if the past is any guide Labor will find some way to shoot itself in the foot. Factional squabbles and sucking up to green / ethnic / whatever pressure groups have done it before. Perhaps they will find some other way to annoy people enough to lose government in three or six years.

Answer 7

It simply went too far! There was an imbalance. My work friend's boss didn't like him and after 30 yrs of service got a 1st and final warning - no longer 3 strikes and you're out! Well his boss has had 2 more jobs since - a repeat offender!

Answer 8

The large population living in Bondi found they could no longer get the (dole) free hand out by the Federal Government,so they than had to "work"

Answer 9

That you risk no longer being paid extra for overtime / weekends / public holidays. Also, you have lots of young people coming out of school who are just starting out, or people who aren't comfortable with negotiating- so they will be exploited.

Answer 10

The fact that people might actually have to do some work & be productive, instead of sitting on their fat ar$es all day & simply collecting their pay cheque at the end of the week.

Ken E, you DO have a choice - either pull your weight & EARN your money, or fu
Perhaps these cretins should have paid more attention in school, got a good education and subsequently a good career instead of wagging school to smoke dope behind the bike sheds?? Why should those of us who have chosen the former option have to bankroll those who don't give a rat's ar$e? Oh, and I also had to PAY for my university education, in addition to the tax I pay in the top tax bracket. Go figure that one!!!

I'm not saying Work Choices was perfect - in fact it was far from it, but at least it was a step in the right direction. People would soon realise that they'd be paid what they're worth. More effort in = more money in your pocket at the end of the week. You want to do fu
Business is business, and there isn't any room for freeloaders; enough of my hard earned money already goes to those poor souls who just don't feel like working, bless them all!!!

"Unfortunately if the past is any guide Labor will find some way to shoot itself in the foot. Factional squabbles and sucking up to green / ethnic / whatever pressure groups have done it before. Perhaps they will find some other way to annoy people enough to lose government in three or six years".

So why did you vote for them Ken??? Sounds like you already know what the outcome is going to be!!! Bit of a hypocritical statement, in light of other posts you've made on these forums...........

I was never a big fan of Howard's, but his record is there for all to see. The Coalition government pulled Australia out of the absolute pile of sh1t that the previous Labour government had left us in.......... we'll be back to where we were in 1996 in no time at all.

And to Homer - let's see who the "goose" is within the next 4 years pal....... I don't see you making a strong argument for your point of view! It's very easy to sit behind your PC & call me a goose, but where's your response to the points I've made? Primary school logic on your part mate!

Never underestimate the stupidity of the masses