Chris, QLD: There are many people I know who have been adversely affected by the new IR laws. These range from people who have been in the workforce for decades and are approaching an increasingly insecure retirement to youngsters trying to find work and being forced to sign AWAs which erode workers rights and rob them of security and dignity.

Katy, QLD: In my experience, many of this country's workers are living in fear! Fear of losing their jobs, fear of not earning enough to meet their commitments, fear of having to neglect their dependants in order to meet the demands of greedy, unscrupulous employers.  These employers revel in the power and increased profits handed to them by John Howard's government at the expense of Australian workers and their families.Let's end these abhorrent cuts by cutting Howard and his cronies out of power!

Steve, Tas: How does this Government expect our population to have a sense of family or community when their policies promote full on work work work.  There is no time left for volunteers to put time into kids (sports, scouting, etc).  I'm glad my children are grown because I don't think I'd have the time for them in this environment.

D Harrison, NSW: I loved the ad it was really good, it is surprising how many people only think that it is the little busineses that this will afeect not big business. I think we have to really let workers know it is big business as well: hospitals, police, ambos, teachers, firies, office workers etc.
The new IR Laws as yet do not affect me or my workplace as I work in the public sector Hospital.
My biggest fear is that if John Howard gets back in that the new IR Laws will severely cut my entitlements. How many nurses are going to want to work under these new conditions. I can see the hospitals being affected in a big way with no staff. As it is a lot of nurses from the private sector are nowing coming to the public sector to get our wages and conditions if that all goes what have we fought  long and hard for, is the end of nursing as we know it.

Mark, SA: I have in one of my first year apprentice groups a 'mature' age student. This young man (in his 30's)is seeking a career change from his trained occupation (cook/chef). It was an interesting experience to hear this young man address the rest of his group as to why he was leaving the hospitality industry. Extended hours, no shift allowance, no penalty rates even on public holidays and no opportunity to negotiate, take it or leave it!! I think his classmates, many of whom are either not enrolled to vote or are first time voters were a little surprised about what employers were able to do under the new laws.

I think that the ad is simple, but effective. It shows how some employers are exploiting the opportunities in the legislation to exploit workers. The working conditions that previous generations have fought for are being destroyed. Our quality of life is at stake here.


Mervyn E. Shephard: I work in the coal mining industry for BMA It used to be a well paid job now it's difficult to manage the cost of fuel $1-25 a ltr rent 6-800 a week 320km to Makay for shopping or pay 30-40% extra at local shops we are going backwards and the speed is increasing

Jens Buche, Vic: The advertisement clearly hits at the issues that employers will exploit. As a prospective employer I propose to pay people for what they are worth, the time they put in, the sacrifices in time they make for their families and unions play an important role in preserving those entitlements. Loadings and penalties won't make me any less competitive if I have a happy and hard working workforce to meet the challenges of business.

Peter, QLD: I am doing ok. I have not been hit by AWA problems because I am still employed under the previous system.I am nervous about what that might mean in the future. I feel angry at the gap that is increasing exponentially between the haves and the have nots.

Kathryn, NSW: I think your new ad is very effective. I was shocked to read (tucked away in "news in brief" on page 7 of My Career (SMH) on saturday (03/03/07)that the pays of women workers were less under AWAs than Collective Agreements! In some cases by $4 per hour!!! Why is this news not FRONT PAGE! We need to keep the pressure on to get rid of these ridiculous contracts!!!!

Wilma, SA: I love your TV ad - very well done. Does cutting the basic wage also mean cuts for pensioners as our pensions are 25% of the basic wage?  That is a very frightening thought as pensions do not allow a decent style of living now.

Deniese, NSW: Last July I was suddenly retrenched at no notice just one Monday morning we don't need you any more you can go home now, after the shock and trying to figure out why? I applied for a Centrelink payment and it was 7 weeks until it started in that time I still had bills to pay and weekly expenses to cover like food etc!!! the cost of living has tripled under this government and the weekly wage pensions etc have stayed the same and it is damn hard, the sooner they get a taste of how hard it is the better

Antony, VIC: Great ad. Punchy and effective. Ever since Howard has threatened the very fabric of our work culture with those IR laws I've never seen such an innovative, positive, effective and rolling campaign by the Labour Movement. Our family owns a medical business that employs 6 people and we are proud to stand by the cause. Business owners like us are behind you every step of the way.

Helen, Vic: I teach HSRs on their 5-day course and a large majority are too scared to stand up for their and their workmates' safety - a right - because they know they will get the sack, even with good laws to protect them. Some are working in shocking conditions, which are only getting worse as a result of the IR laws.

Alistair, Vic: Cuts! Cuts! Cuts! Now, there is an ad that tells it how
it really is. I just wanted to say that it very upsetting to see that the people of Australia have allowed themselves to be fooled by Howard for so long... When I started my apprenticeship in 1995 Australia had one of the best industrial relations systems in the world.
By 1997 I started to notice changes in the I.R. system. And guess what?
The Liberals were not changing things for the better, they were changing things for the worse.
One by one our workplace rights were slowly disappearing, and election after election people kept allowing themselves to be fooled.
At election time, people would hear
John Howard say the words "Our Economy" or "Interest Rates", and everytime he did, it stupified and beguiled people into voting for a government that was intent on forcing people to surrender their workplace rights for nothing.
Not to mention, just about every other civil right that we had as well.
And just have a good look at where
we are now...
And sorry Howard, I'm not that bad with numeracy.
I'VE DONE THE MATHS, AND GREG COMBET AND SHARON BURROW ARE RIGHT.
I AM A LOT WORSE OFF UNDER YOUR "WORKCHOICES" LEGISLATIONS.
NOT TO MENTION, EVERYBODY ELSE...
JUST WAKE UP AUSTRALIA!!
VOTE HOWARD OUT!!

Paul, VIC: I like the ad. It's blunt and gets straight to the point. As much as I hate below the belt line politics, it's about time the Liberals had a taste of their own medicinal spin! I have not been affected by these laws...yet! I see the news reports, though, and it saddens me to see the direction the Liberals are taking this country in. I think, "It's Time."

Jan: Our country has changed, the Goverment would like everyone to work for nothing. My husband firm now wants everyone to sign contracts, but not told how much pay the employers will receive etc. They are expected to work a shift starting at 7 am then can work a late shift as well say until 10pm, and turn up for work the next morning by 7am. No 8 hours break in between.


Gavan, Vic: AWAs are one thing - but are you or anyone else monitoring the trend of employers requiring new employees to set themselves up as independent contractors with their own GST registration, ABN, responsible for their own benefits.  So no sick leave, superannuation, OHS etc.  And no payroll tax etc for the boss.  My 20 year old son is victim of this employer scam.

Rob, Vic: Good ad, the figures don't lie pay and conditions are shrinking. The company I work for has recently removed traveling allowance and nobody would disagree that transport has never been more expensive. The once acknowledged career path in my industry is now almost non-existent has the company has a strong preference for casual disposable labor.

Mick, NSW: These new IR laws suck the life out of us Hard Working Australians!

To my understanding a government wins office by gaining the majority of votes from the public. In Australia we now have a government led by Howard which is representing the minority of the public with WorkChoices and that minority is the Big end of town, those with the most money whilst those with the least money are now getting screwed. Lets face it, in Australia we are now working a 6 day week to make ends meet and if Howard gets re-elected we must face the prospect of working a 7 day week just to keep a roof over our heads. Furthermore we the public we never told about these IR reforms prior to the last Federal Election and we must vote Howard out to get rid of them to re-establish A FAIR GO FOR ALL AUSTRALIANS.

James, NSW: My wife and I migrated under the skill migration program about 5 years ago from the UK, and now have a one year old daughter. Because we don't have any family support network in Australia my wife had to give up work to care for our daughter, as her income couldn't cover the cost of childcare. As we are now on a single income my family and I had to move out of our rented 2-bed apartment over the new year holiday because of increasing rental prices, to a cheaper suburb. Unfortunately, as I work in the construction industry the new laws mean that I have now lost apx $5K per year in site allowances which has made it quite tough to provide for my family, to make it worse, the company I work for -  Honeywell, a large multi-national controls company has told me that I need to sign an AWA to remain in the construction industry (they are unwilling to offer a collective agreement), this AWA has removed many things that were in the award, such as shift allowance and reduced redundancy payments.

We are very disappointed with the current situation, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find the 'australian dream' we were sold when we applied for migration, and in fact this dream is quickly turning into a bad dream; or nightmare. We feel that we should of remained in the UK and are even re-considering our migration purely on the basis of this changing working environment, and negative shift in the standard of living.

Taila: Partnerships and sole traders are rebadging themselves as "proprietary companies" with limited liability so their activities will fall under the federal Workplace Relations Act rather than the more stringent and enforceable state IR laws.

Also the federal IR hotline confessed they have been inundated with complaints by employees and are at least four weeks behind in responding to them...this even includes instances where workers have not been paid.

I hope the ACTU and Shadow Ministers Gillard and Wong will highlight this in their campaigning.

Euan, NSW: Howard's new I.R. laws are supposed to make business more efficient and competitive, Did it help the Blundstone workers?

Jo: The ads are great about time we had ads that told the truth about the plight of the Australian people. The Howard Government has abondoned the Australian people by not upholding its duty of care. The cost of living has sky rocketed and the standard of living has dropped. Our wages have not changed, we have less rights, people are getting sick with anxiety and depression from the Howard Governments policies which has created an insecure environment. I would hate to be on a welfare allowance as they have not changed at all.
His policies have also eroded away the family unit which holds our society together.

Serene, NSW: I am a Nursing Student, and while I do not work for pay yet, I am well aware that a new state govenment will mean that I will be on less pay when I finish my degree, working as a fully qualified Registered Nurse, than I get now working for K-Mart. I seriously wonder if the government actually wants people to work and have a decent living. My mum works for an employment firm, and she says most of her new clients are highly qualified people, forced out of positions because of personality clashes. No reason other than that. I know one man, and he went from $75k per annum to nothing because a manager didn’t like him.
Whatever the Government wants to thing, this is NOT AUSTRALIAN, we DON'T LIKE IT, and its JUST NOT CRICKET!
How about we cut their pay and see what happens…

Mary, Vic: I have not yet been affected by these changes - and may be one of the lucky who are employed by companies who value their employees enough to treat them fairly.  The reason I am writing is to share my concern for the hundreds of thousands of other employees who are not as fortunate.  You don't need to be directly affected by these changes in order to make your voice heard.  I am concerned for those hardworking low paid workers who will suffer.  Please take a stand - it doesn’t have to be about you personally, it is about a way of life we need to fight to keep and the many hardworking people who deserve our compassion, respect and support.

Peter, Qld: AWAs are a disaster as goodwill is not a business ethic. Few benefit from these Federally driven AWAs; and, of those who do, they are at the far right of the income spectrum where you would expect to find John Howard's friends. John Howard has never understood the working class ethos and I suspect he is very happy to keep working class people at the margins just like his neo-con mate in the White House-George W. Bush. Mark Latham was right, there truly is a conga line of suckholes and none more "congalike" than our Prime Minister and his coterie of goons in Canberra.

Rob, NSW: Biggest effect to me was that the managers are work pretty much went from "friendly" to bullies overnight. Threatening with the sack, threatening me not to take a break, saying the employer/owner will sack me immediately if I call my union etc... So yeah, I'm 24, I would hate to see how 18 year olds are going!

Thankfully, the owner is pretty cool and is working to have me put into a different area in the next few months. If I hadn't had a Union, or talked to the doctor - I'm not sure what would have happened.

To me, it's not so much cuts, cuts, cuts; but bullying/power/intimidation.

Know a few others who've had similar experiences, maybe you can bring that up at some stage? Harrassment has pretty much being legalised by Workchoices, or at least made it difficult to stand up to!


Nicole, NSW: I think the new add is beaut, we really need to emphasise the cuts as i am aware still to this day people believe their boss will not do this to them. I am very scared for many people who believe John Howard is a good bloke and who won't deliberatly set out to hurt them financially. This ad sets out the basics of what will be cut from their weekly wage and benefits. I do not want to live as they do in America, working 4 jobs to make the equivalent of 1 wage in Australia.

Robyne: I am not surprised at this governments actions.  Everyone is worse off. For people that live alone it is a nightmare trying to manage let alone have any quality of life.  IT seems also there is no end to increasing prices, interest rates etc.  How much do they want from the workers?

Dawn: the ad is good - wish it was longer but understand the cost involved - its so very important though to also link the increases in petrol, childcare and mortgage repayments to the fact that workers ARE worse off and  their employment less secure - could there be any doubt that major employment groups have been urged to 'hold-off' until after the next election to diffuse the impact of IR laws - heaven help workers if Howard is re-elected and the reins come off industry cut-backs -  thanks for the chance to comment -   best of luck.

Therese, QLD: I think it's great, factual, speakers have well modulated 'credible' voices, information short and to the point.  I have had experience of Howard's workplaces of the future via my sister who works in child care.  She was on sick leave from work and upon her return had been told she was being relocated to another branch of the centre which had just been absorbed by another company.  She resigned and in her efforts to try to find work she has been asked to work up to 3 hours, unpaid, at child care centres so that they can 'assess' her suitability, along with other candidates working alongside her.  When she has obtained work she has found it very difficult to (a) get her pay transferred to her bank account and/or (b) get the correct amount. These instances may not fall into the pay and conditions as listed but it is a fair indication of the 'cop it or find another job' attitude that employers now have towards their employees.