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On November 24, 2007, Australians showed they will never support an attack on rights at work, with a historic repudiation of the Liberal and National parties' WorkChoices.

Here are some of the reasons why WorkChoices changed Australians' votes.

John: The Liberal party have made it quite clear that the IR laws we have now are just the tip of the iceberg.  If they are re-elected these unfair laws will be made even more drastic and hurt more hardworking people.  Coupled with the rise in interest rates who can afford to take the risk of another 4 years of the Liberal party?  Be sure to vote against the Liberals on Nov 24th.
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Nathan: It's pretty simple: put the guys that made these unfair work laws LAST and the party that can actually change the legislation to get rid of Workchoices and stop any further attacks on your rights FIRST. What it means to you in your local seat on the green paper?
Give your local Australian Labor candidate a big number 1.
Next- support the minor parties who can help Labor get rid of these laws.
Finally - put the Liberal and National Party candidates dead, smack last.
In the senate on the big white ballot?
Pretty simple - all you have to do is put a big number 1 in the Australian Labor box above the line.
This is your chance to give John Howard a taste of what his unfair work laws have done to thousands of working Australians.
Remember: You and your family's rights at work - are definitely worth voting for.
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GR: Regarding the draconian IR laws, it may be too late for me but I vote thinking about my children, my grand-children and all the future generations.
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Mandy: Please think of the working future of your children and grandchildren when casting your vote on November 24.  Make sure you vote to get rid of Howard's IR reforms.  Take the advice slip from the YR@W volunteers outside your polling booth. I and thousands of others across the nation have been working for 2 years to get rid of these unjust laws and NOW is the time.
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Bernadette: Don't just vote for yourself. Remember those who are worse off than you. Remember our youth and their future. Vote for the party that restores the balance for working families, and puts our communities' and future needs back into the economy.
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Juleigh: If the Coalition are re-elected they will view that as a mandate to keep the changes to IR laws and will implement further changes. Who'd have thought 15 years ago that our children, the future workers, would have employment conditions similar to the USA. I was always proud that Australia had a history of protecting workers rights - that pride no longer exists.
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Maria: Change is scary but change is essential.  Now is the best time to change for the better. We need this change as it does not look like the Liberal is going to make it better for us!
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Your vote is not just important on November 24. It is vital to the unborn generations of Aussie kids who will be born into a system that either nurtures them or one that exploits them. Give our future a chance. Dont vote for the Liberal/national coalition.
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Paul: Mr Howard has promised that if he loses this election no Liberal Government will ever impose radical reform of IR laws on Australians again. Let's hope that's a core promise. Put Liberal LAST.
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Pauline: Ho Ho Ho! It's Johnny's election present time again. But lets just remember back to all the wonerful surprises Mr Howard had after his election wins, GST, Higher Interest Rates, and of course, Workchoices. What will lil' Johnnies Christmas surprise be for Australia this year if he gets elected. Can you afford it?
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Catherine: I am a 64 year old Registered Nurse employed by State Health.  I see clients who are strugling to survive in this "brave new world" Howard and co have created.  This is not what my parents strugled throught 2 world wars and a depression for.  We have a great country here, egalitarian, supportive, and exciting.  Do not let the Liberals and Big Business spoil it for all of us.
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Daryl: At this election you have a choice to vote for John Howard who will morph into Peter Costello in 2 years or for Kevin Rudd who will be here for the full term and will end the unfair IR laws.
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Mick: Be sure to vote Labor. I work out on the mines and construction jobs in Central Queensland. I would love to be home every night with my family, but I can't. Not with the way things are at the moment. I can't earn the same wage working at home unless I work 7 days a week 12 hours a day. Then I dont even get to see my Family. What sort of life is that? I'm a ex-serviceman I have served my country and I can't afford to live with my Family. Not the country I have fought for.
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Robyn G: The federal Liberal government have worked hard to make Australia a meanier and nastier place, particularly with their treatment of refugees and asylum seekers, indigenous people and their ongoing attack on unions.  Workchoices is completely unnecessary to achieving their espoused aims of 'economic growth' and stability.  Have a look at Paul Keating's article in the Age on Tuesday 13 November for details.  Please do not vote for more years of injustice and intolerance.
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Patricia: My husband is a tradesman and now works for an hourly rate that is the lowest it has been in his 35 years of working. He is unable to get a full time job, so no sick pay, holidays etc.He is only ever given contracts and casual work. When the work is finished he gets the boot!
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Vote 1 Labor in House of Reps

and in the other election

Vote 1 Greens in the Senate

Labor can't the Senate and if you don't vote Green you get Howard/Costello
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Bob: This is the first election I can remember that I have decided so early!
My usual tactic is to wait until the 'goodies' are announced in the last 2 weeks and vote on that. This time, it really doesn't matter - the major issues IR, Health, environment are just too important. No amount of vote buying will sway me anymore, I have to vote with my conscience for the only party that has the big picture LABOR.
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Only Labor and the Greens will make definite changes to WorkChoices (that's an oxymoron in itself)so vote Labor for the Lower House.  But!  It is statistically IMPOSSIBLE for Labor to win a majority in the Senate and if they can't get a working majority NOTHING will be changed, nothing! So, only a vote for parties preferencing Labor in the Senate, such as the Greens, will mean any real change for Australians.  This is vital information.  Labor cannot win the Senate by themselves and they are preferencing the Greens in the Senate to hopefully be able to overturn the draconian laws Howard has us living under.
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Kylie: Think about important issues that extend beyond your personal hip pocket! Think about whether or not the party you plan on voting for has a plan for providing public education with more funding.  Do they have a workable and achievable plan on making Australia a more environmentally friendly country that promotes and uses renewable energy? Ask yourself what this party does to promote and create a world characterised by peace and understanding? How does this party treat the world's poor and suffering? What is this party going to ensure that our job is secure and that will continue to be remunerated appropriately for the hard work you do? Has this party ever lied to the Australian public to serve its own agenda? There are so many questions to ask yourself, just make sure they are the right ones!
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Anne: I know that many of us are struggling because of the cost of housing, living expenses and the squeeze on wages. Please think at this time about the struggle that we will all continue to have without decent infrastructure such as education, health and proper transport corridors. Australia deserves better; workers deserve better than the driving down of wages through Work Choices. Australia must have a decent balanced society - with a fair go for all, not a better go for some. Vote to protect Australia's future and your own.
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It is important Australia to vote out Workchoices at this election so we have a fair go future for our kids! My Husband has recently been made redundant after 22 years in his job as a fitter, and finishes on the 21st of December 2007! The company was still making millions in profit but at the end of the day it is cheaper for them to import pipe into the country than it is for them to buy the steel to make it here in australia!  My husband was one of 240 employees to lose their jobs! They are all now trying to find jobs where they are not going to be done over by workchoices! They need to go NOW!
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I have had the horrendous experience of losing my job through Workchoices.  No warning, just a whole lot of ugly bullying and ongoing disparagement of my significant contribution. No consideration for the impact on my personal circumstances or family.  Moving on from that experience is proving really tough.  I want more than just to rip up Work Choices legislation.  I want real protection and clear expectations on employers about what is fair and reasonable conduct.

So my focus is not just on removing the Liberal Party from Government but on ensuring a strong balance of power in the Senate by IR friendly parties is returned. Labor cannot win the senate in this election because only half the seats are up for grabs this year and the Liberals won too many of the other half last time. But a balance of power by a third independent voice(s) can be restored. Vote Green in the Senate for the strongest voice on IR Reform or Democrat.  Don't vote Family First in the Senate, they have stated they will not commit to removing Workchoices.
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NC: This election is not just about the type of society I want to live in, but the type of society I want my children to be part of in the future. A future that treats people fairly, a future with decent rights at work, a future that sees them on a level playing field with their boss, a future where should they wish to belong to a union they are free to do so, a future in which they are paid a fair days wage for a fair days work. Is that too much to ask?
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John Howard has, through his IR legislation, succumbed to the ailment of many prime ministers who have been in office for too long.  His hubris has caused him to act, solely on the basis of his control of the Senate instead of what is good for Australia, to push his ideological barrow and to go too far in his zealous campaign to create an underclass of Australians and to crush the unions.  He has been in power for too long and has gone too far to the right.
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Smithy: I urge the people of Australia to make your vote count, not just for you but your fellow workmates and neighbors. Your Rights not only at work but also in a democracy. It is time to see past the fear campaign waged upon us by liberal scaremongering. We deserve to uphold our Australian values and that is based upon everybody having a fair go. Please do not allow this Country to fall into the social disorder plague- Americanisation. I'm the biggest and best and stuff anybody else. No thank you John Howard / Peter Costello. I trust the rest of the country to vote with their heart mind and social conscious this time round. Your Rights At Work- Vote 1 for.
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Howard needs to be kicked out,a vote for Howard is a vote for Pea Hearted Pete,who would make Howard look like a coward when it comes to IR laws in this country.Its time that ordinary Australians have been continually lied to by the most self congratulating government in history,these people believe the peasants should be seen and not heard,the time has come to smash the  oinks.Vote HOWARD OUT.
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Andri: Vote Labor for a fair deal in the workplace
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Vote for Families, fair wages, working conditions. VOTE LABOR
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Janet: As the IR legislation is currently written state employees like teachers whose collective bargaining agreements expire shortly face reduced conditions and no rise in pay.

If Australia experiences depression then Workchoices allows wages to be cut.  If people earn less, they will spend less and  businesses that lose customers for their goods and services will have to close, throwing people out of work.
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Our Grandfathers and Great Grandfathers put themselves on the line all those years ago to make Australia the place is it now. The Place we up until now have been proud to call home. If you vote for Howard how can you ever look these men in the eyes again? How can you ever dare to pay your respects on ANZAC day or Amistice day ever again? For you would of supported the undoing of all that these men went into battle for. If nothing else, isn't what our forefathers fought to give us worth voting to keep? VOTE LABOR and really show your thanks.
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The most important vote, is your vote for the Senate.  If the Liberal/National coalition have control of the Senate after this election, Work Choices will not change.
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Don't let Australia turn into a 'little America' with  the IR laws. We need to preserve the Australian way of a fair go for everyone. Vote the IR laws  out on November 24.
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You have only one chance to bring back 'real choices' into the lives of working people - unions treated all members fairly-vote out Howard-and vote for Labor to protect your working conditions! The choice is clear - a vote for the coalition give you 'no choice' - a vote for Labor gives you 'every choice'!
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My how to vote tip for these up coming elections would be Go Labor, it is time for M Howard and Mr Costello and the other Liberal Memebrs of Parliment to step aside and give us a government that caes for its people, ALL of its people even the working hard[extremly hard], working class, Along with many other Australians I didn't think much about the new IR laws when they were first introduced. I had faith in our Prime Minister and Government. Until I guess it affects you directly, We considered our family to bemiddle class working AUstralians but wih the introduction of the IR Laws I guess we could now call ourselves lower or under class AUstralians as we feel we are of no value or worth to this governemnt and large businesses who can do what ever they like when it comes to emloying or unemploying you. Generally on a whim. As a mother of 5 children I lost my job as a teacher aide 2 years ago now and had no recourse against the final diecision, even though out of the total of 7 aides employed I was the most qualified and had been there 2 years longer than 5 of the others. I dealt with this and moved on, when in hindsight I should of stood an fought this decision. My eldest child whom has finished senior studies last year was dismissed from his job just recently because a supervisor didn't like the idea of him moving stores to obtain a permanent job within the telecommunications franchise and proceeded to have him sacked. Looking for another job he found one in the construction area with a builder who promised him an apprentiship, only to dismiss him after one month and a half saying, I am going on holidays early for christmas and won't need and apprentice next year after all. You can finish up 1/2 day today. Where do these laws leave our children? what will their futures be like? Is there a future for them? And how do we as parents help them? I have always voted Liberal but I am now a Labor supporter and Mr Rudd do us Proud!
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Mitch: Last election we didn't hear about the Howard Government's unfair IR laws that has cut the pay and conditions of working aussies. This election, I am glad I can vote for a fair industrial relations system that brings back the balance- rather than these laws that have cut the pay and working conditions of so many people. I cannot support any Liberal/National who has supported these Workchoices hasnothing to do with fairness and flexibility. I know I will be voting for my rights at work at this election because we don't know what the Liberals aren't telling us this time around. As a young Australian I am passionate about our future, a future where the dignity of every worker is respected and not this race to the bottom. This election we have a clear choice.. this time lets vote for a better Australia build on a fair go for all.
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Peter: To any of the voting public who may be scared by Howard's innocuous and demeaning portrayal of unions and their members as nothing more then "thugs" and something to be feared, I would just like to remind those people that it was the unions who fought for the conditions they enjoy today, not withstanding the stands that unions collectively have taken on many social wrongs, such as apartheid, the illegal war in Iraq, aboriginal welfare, refugees...and the list goes on!!!
Whilst i am a long-time member of a supposedly 'militant union', my union has a very proud record on it's fights for the ordinary man, union member, or non-union member, so don't be put put off by Howard's scaremongering and let's get back to a fairer Australia that we all once new and were respected for, the world over.
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Paul: A vote For Johnny is a free kick vote for Peter Costello. It is Time to wipe that smirk of his face.
Finally after 11 long years of rule for the rich and big business it is time for the worker to have some decency returned to the workplace and fairer outcomes for working families. Let's get behind Kevin and kick the libs into a distant memory.
'KEVIN IN 07' I CAN DO THAT.
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Geoff: Vote for anyone except the Liberals. Get these corrupt fools out.  Look at Australia's sad standing in the world after the Liberals Big Business backed policies. Who paid the biggest bribes to Saddam. Who locked up people for years by mistake in their Immigration "Prisons".  What country has no practical policies on Climate Change. Their dreams of Clean Coal and Nuclear energy are just devices to allow them to do nothing. Clean Coal is an impractical dream and even Liberal supporters would not allow a nuclear powerstation in their own back yard. I'm starting to rant and rave and I have not mentioned their IR Law debacle. Just kick them out!!
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Greg: Select ALP and then Greens in all electorates where candidates are standing. The Right to Work in a free and deomcratic society is being lost with Howard and the Libs. Remember the Wonthaggi Coal Miners 8 hour day struggle and if you've ever considered why quality of life and rights are important just parallel the Libs IR laws with the coal mines - hard and horrible. VOTE Kevin 07.
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I'd say get your priorities in order. Stop worrying about some crap show on TV and get a real life - will your kids have a real life or will they be cogs in the machine. We are ants on a rock in space. Does that give you some perspective on what's important?
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SM: I intend to vote for my local Greens Party Senator at this Federal Election. I support these 3 priorities - to restore social justice, to remove workchoices and to develop strategies to handle climate change.   I think that it is critical that an independent voice is present in the Senate and I feel currently that the Greens Party is the only party able to provide this. The Greens and the ALP have just agreed on a preference deal aiming at ensuring that the Senate regains its role as a House of Review (of legislation). Voting for a Greens Senator at this election ensures that we, ordinary Australians, can be sure that at the very least 2 major problems are addressed - a fairer IR system which protects vunerable workers (which can be any of us at any time in our working lives);and a balanced approach to the issue of climate change rather than commercially driven solutions.
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If you are still not sure that the Liberal Party has done enough damage - consider this. If they win this election, those foul IR Laws that you already know of, are just the beginning! There will be no minimum wage and fairness will not apply. If you are unwilling to work for less than the minimal wage that you might get now, then employers are able to bring in(sponsor) (under the Visa 471 rule) migrant workers who will agree to work for any amount. This is not a joke - this is already beginning to happen.  If you have children....what future do they have if we do not stop the rot??
If you are still unsure that the Labor Party will serve you well, consider a vote for the Greens. They will care for you,the environment and the future, and if they hold the balance of power, they will help to keep either of the other parties from wreaking any more havoc.
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Richie: If Liberal win,we will end up like the UK. Very low wages, very high cost of living....i.e. companies thrive at our expense.
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Advance Australia Fair, the name of our national anthem represents the ideals of the Australian people - work hard and you will get ahead - thanks to Howard's IR laws the chances of getting ahead on a working wage are getting slimmer by the day.  Job creation is not justification for depriving everyday people of the opportunity to be home owners!  IR out Fair Go IN!
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Igor: That's right. Realized that promises as to keep interest rate low is failed. Now he promises something else! That's way to go! He committed that this promise do not promise any more!! To bad, John!!! As well remember who put up GST and double tax on fuel, Lied about children overboard, interest rates, cut funds for public schools( now he remember this) and permanent  LIES, LIES and many more LIES. And the latest thread for working families IR as for people of second class. Enough Howard, take break. Go away!!!
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Penny: Get RID of Work Choices. Act NOW on climate change. Close the gap between labour and the owners of the means of production.  Close the gap between rich and poor. Tax the rich, not the poor. Bring back the right to strike; the only real right the working class ever had against the white collar sector. Touch one, touch all.
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Robert: I believe this Election is about exploiting fear and greed to shackle the citizens of Australia under the unholy tyranny of Big Business and Liberal Economic Policy and transform our great, free country into a mute and disempowered swarm of underpaid slaves. This obsenity must be resisted to the last.
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Adrian: As a country, we should always be finding ways to improve how things are run for the benefit of our society. The question which should always be asked when doing so is how is this going to affect the lowest common denominator in our society. Put in another way,will our actions disadvantage those who are already at risk.
Workchoices does not benefit our society it benefits those who are in a position of power and who already have the power to negotiate what they want irrespective of what laws are in place. They only benefit the socially advantaged with regard to our society and further disadvantage the already vulnerable. The fact that so many awa's have been returned to employers for review is suggestive of how many employers seek to exploit potential staff for their own gain and the potential staff members disadvantage. Just because it may not affect me as an individual does not mean that it is ok.We as individuals need to look beyond our own circumstances and consider our "fellow Australians" in ways which our current leaders cannot. They have lost touch and, it can be argued, never were in touch with anyone who was not in their own societal circle. Empathy can be learned if you have the strength of character to do so.And from empathy stems a way of thinking which would make such laws unth  inkable.Anyone who has a persuasive nature can argue a point successfully to the point where whatever is on offer seems feasible. Especially if you lack empathy.  You cannot change someone who has thought the same way for more than sixty years. And you cannot change his followers who believe as he does and sometimes worse. Giving exploiters another opportunity in power is like putting a full bottle of alcohol in front of an alcoholic. They cannot but succumb because the temptation is too great.  And if you got away with it the first time then to do so the second time and the third and the fourth becomes that much easier. Remove the temptation and you have a fighting chance. Remove the Liberals from government and those at risk in Australia have a fighting chance.
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Louisa: Preference a minor party first -- they'll get $2 of electoral funding.
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Kathy: For goodness sake Latrobe voters, let us not have the awful Jason Wood again!   He voted for Work Choices, and is a typical timeserver appearing at election time only.  He claims green credentials but has done nothing about them.
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David: Labor in the Reps and Greens in the Senate - its practical and its decent. Don't believe the lies of a pack of cowards like Howard and Costello. Whatever his faults, Kevin Rudd represents a sustainable alternative and Bob Brown's Greens will balance him nicely.
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The Liberal Party hangs all of its credibility on the management of the economy, as if Australia was one-dimensional, and that the economy was the only thing we lived for. But we Australians are more than that. We believe in a fair go; we are a decent and honest people; we have never put up with seeing the disadvantaged or poor to be trodden on; our mates and family are more, much more important than high salaries for industry fat cats. I'll be voting for Labor. Will you support your mates?
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MM: It's vital, for Australia's future, you vote against the Coalition & their horrendous Work Choices legislation. Do not believe they will not take this legislation further. Remember the "core or non core promises?"
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I have not been effected by the IR policies and I doubt I will.  I do,however, fear for all those in the firing line.  These are laws designed to destroy Unions and widen the gap between the rich and poor.  They will do nothing but create a class of working poor in this country.  Apparently they are necessary to keep downward pressure on wages.  Who's wages?  Try restricting CEO's massive pay rises for a change!

Mr Howard will be gone in two years, tops,  and will have no accountability.  He has been happy to lie to us when he has intended to stick around so can you really believe him now that he will be able to retire and leave it up to others to break his promises?

Mr Costello is on record as saying he will take the IR laws further and make no mistake, a vote for Howard will be seen as a mandate by Mr Costello to inflict further suffering on the working class of this country.  You can just imagine his smug argument that "If the Australian people didn't want this they would not have voted for us at the last election".

And lets not forget that the majority of your working conditions have been hard won battles fought on your behalf by unions and their members.  They were also largely responsible for the deregulation of wage fixing that laid the platform for the economic boom Howard now calls his own.  We should be thanking them, not demonising them.

Take it from someone who has done very well over the years under Howard.  A vote for them this time is a vote for a widening gap in classes and more money for big business, less for the worker. Can we all please put the needs of the less fortunate ahead of ourselves this time around.
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ECB: 1) John Howard lied on a variety of issues in the lead up to the last election...children overboard, overseas military commitments and of course the WorkChoices legislation.  We can have no idea where he will go now if we reward these lies with another opportunity to destroy Australia.
2) We have even less idea what Peter Costello would do if he were in the driver's seat.
3) John Howard's dishonesty becomes even more obvious when he promises, on the eve of what he hopes to be another term, to take action on climate change, on education, on reconciliation and several other important issues that he has steadfastly avoided for eleven years.
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Ok Guys and Gals, We Need to vote correctly in this election. Firstly we need to abolish the majority that the Liberal Government has in the House of Reps and in the Senate. If we do this then Kevin Rudd and his team will be able to completely abolish the unfair 'Workchoices' legislation and give us all back out security as employees. So on the 24th Please vote Labor in both the House of Reps and the Senate and end the tyrany of a Howard Government before we enter into the 53rd state od the united states where only the rich get by and the poor need to work for 5 years to get 2 weeks holiday. Lets Give John Howard a message that is clear and concise that we feel strongly about his work place reforms and that we want them gone by voting him out of government. Please for your own sake and the sake of the countrys future vote for the labor party and end the dictatorship of John Winston Howard.
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Vote Labour or you will regret it!! You can tell a man by the friends he keeps, Howard and G W Bush, do you really think that the world is a better place since Howard and Bush have had power for so long, please think real hard this election, try to remember the mistakes that both Howard and Bush have made these past years.
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Mitch: Howard is promising a huge pile of cash. Please don't be tricked into voting for a party that is financially attractive, but is morally bankrupt. They don't care about our workers. They don't care about asylum seekers - especially not African Mr Andrews. They don't care about slicing away at human rights, about the local people in whichever nation the US decides to invade next as Howard dutifully follows. Please care. Please vote Howard out.
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Joh: Look for the policies which look after the most marginalised people in our community, the young, the poor and those who are unable to articulate for themselves and vote accordingly.  A country becomes truly wealthy by caring for those without a strong voice and bridging the gap between rich and poor.
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Vote with your heart and your head  -and not with your pocket.
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Remember that Howard and his accomplices have not only sabotaged your rights at work but took our beloved country into an  immoral and illegal war of aggression- and that is just for starters.
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Jon: I'll be voting Green in the upper and lower houses because not only do they promise to do away with Work Choices, but they believe in the concepts of equity and fairness, and will do something to protect the environment
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All of our working conditions have been fought for over many years..don't lose them with the flick of a pencil on election day.Vote the IR laws out..vote Howard out.
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If the Coalition are re-elected they will view that as a mandate to keep the changes to IR laws and will implement further changes. Who'd have thought 15 years ago that our children, the future workers, would have employment conditions similar to the USA. I was always proud that Australia had a history of protecting workers right - that pride no longer exists.
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Norman: EVERY NATION WITHIN THE OECD HAS LEGALLY PROTECTED RIGHTS TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING. Australian citizens under work choices have less rights in the work place and less rights than stipulated by the INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION to which Australia is a signatory nation.
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Last election Mr Howard did not make any mention of work choices. If he was prepared to bring in such horrible legislation without a mandate from the people, can you trust a Liberal government not to make it worse? I do not think so.
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John: If you want your children and grandchildren to grow up in an Australia where they can afford to live, have a home and a home life, please vote the Howard government out of Office.
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John: For the worker, the Liberal Party's "Work Choices" leaves NO Choices.  It gives unlimited choices to the Employer.
If you want to have a decent working future with dignity, vote for the Labor Party.
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This election isn't just to do with economics, this election is for the environment.   The Liberal Party has for too long dwelt on economics and allowing our environment to deteriorate nearly to a point of no return.   If Australians love Australia, as they say they do, then please vote for a party that will help sustain our environment, water, food, native plants and animals etc. Without a sustainable environment and land conservation then how and what shall be eat.   We will not be able to eat money as the politicians seem to think. I am sick of buying food that comes from overseas.   I want to buy good healthy Australian produce.
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When the Howard goverment attacks the unions in thier TV ads, just remember he is attacking everyone of the workers that are members of a  union. How dare they say I and my fellow members are scum and not worth anything because we belong to unions.I am proud to be one of those members, and we have had to  rely on our union to protect and improve working conditions and pay.3 years battle. My message is simple NO HOWARD NO! or as in Eden Monaro NO GARY NO!!!
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Last year I was an ordinary housewife but this year I could no longer allow politicians to destroy our planet, our family lives, our working conditions and our peace of mind. A group of us have marched on parliament met with politicians and we found they had no intention of considering the future so now I have become very political. One of our grouphas put up her hand and is running as a Green Candidate in the Federal election for Holt. Her name is Lynette Keleher. We have never been involved in politics but sometinmes the ordinary mums and dads say enough is enough. Please vote Green at this election. We do not want a dangerous nuclear future for our children, we should be leaving the uranium in the ground. Renewable can be BASELOAD and they know it. Clean Coal is dirty lie (greenpeace). The problem with renewables is the sun wind and waves are FREE (Governments hate that. The Power is now with the people. Show them who they are working for.
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John: Have a look at the message the Libs are sending: Actors to tell you that they're going to have to sack workers from their pretend companies; running Union scare campaigns because they won't support honest negotiations.
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Yalta: Lets not forget those less fortunate than ourselves. These are the people we need to use our vote for.....the young, the elderly, the sick, the disadvantaged...lets remember these groups of people (not statistics) this voting day. Yes it hurts when intrest rates rise but we still have a roof over our heads. Dont let money rule your decision. Let your social voice moral rights assist you in making your vote.
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The election must be about Austrlia as a comminity and society. Think beyond your own back pocket - think of your neighbours,your friends and your family. Think of our future and vote for a fair and decent society and a fair and decent workplace.
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Anthonius: Are we going to let the Howard Goverment turn us into a third world country that has a section of our society that are treated as slaves through thier IR laws. We dont need a slave trade! We dont need a virtual Mexico!
We live in a great country that is wealthy and rich with resources and managed correctly we dont need to have an Australia that the Howard Goverment wants.
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The Howard - Costello government can not be trusted to keep any of the billion dollart promises they are making.  Don't be fooled by the hype!  Look at their record...a strong economy byt at what cost to the environment and people's lives?
Vote Green!
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MP: With the length of time the liberals have had to make the country better all they have done is make is far worse starting with Iraq war Howard knew we didnt want our people sent over their and instead he sends more. Interest rates, he knows will hurt us all and yet they keep going up. Workchoices he knew would hurt us all and yet he still bought them in, I believe he isnt finished with them yet and as he knows he is retireing soon he has yet to put into action his last big play on workchoices which I believe is to get rid of penalty rates and being a nurse in aged care he knows all too well that will hurt us really bad , he is already killing the health system and this will make it all far worse he is only interested in his retirement fund which he added to with political pay rises recently .We need a change and we need to get rid of workchoices I dont want Costello as our next Prime Minister!
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Rob: Whatever you do on election day, make sure you preference Labor ahead of the Liberal/Nationals. There are so many reasons to NOT vote for the coalition that we simply must change our government.  There is simply too much at stake for workers and their families. I'm voting for the environment... without that we are nothing.  So my vote card will look like this: 1.  Greens 2.  Democrats 3.  Labor 4.  Family First 5.  Liberal/National. Let's get into the environment and out of the Middle East people!
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Please please please do not let your hip pocket nerve deter you from voting out this group of uncaring, unfeeling individuals who call themselves a Government.Make your vote count by putting in youth,freshness and compassion. In my view that is what Australia is all about. Start now to change the future.
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Make a list of the Howard Governments broken promises - the "never evers" and the "not a core promise"!
Then remember that there was NO MENTION of IR "reform" before the last election - and how convincing is their declaration that there are no more reforms to come?
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IT seems there are no politician and no political parties who are prepared to make a stand that has true vision for our future. But we still need to try to steer the rudderless (pardon the pun) ship that is australia in the direction that has the most equitable and sustainable future for australia.  That means choosing the party , or the local member that bests  understands  and upholds the principles of social justice. While both parties are lacking, the Howard government has clearly shown itself to lack any sense of social justice. justice for multicultuaralism, for the poor, for the middle classes, or for our future. Hopefully with Labor we can at least head in a socially just direction, rebuild our passion for a decent human endevour, and create a better future. 
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Chris: This is our last chance to stand united as one if Howard gets re-elected to power he will certainl tear the  "Union Movement" apart! If you dont think of yourself think of the tommorrow for your children and their future. Nobody wants to work under a dictorious Liberal Government?
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Joe Hockey says that he will resign if there are changes to WORKCHOICES. Peter Costello, the next Prime Minister(?) won't give such an assurance. They may be too timid to try in the next parliament but never think that they have taken it off the agenda. It's been ther for over a hundred years and will be ther until they return Australia to a 'master - servant' iR model.
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Coalition: Economy- Haves and Have-Nots
Labor: Society- Equality
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KR: Now, more than ever, every one of us must think seriously about Australia's future. The past 11 years of coalition government have been the most punitive and divisive in our history since Federation. Contrary to what the federal government keeps telling us, we have a polarised society. The so-called economic prosperity they laud has not brought benefits to ordinary Australians.  Now the Howard government has launched the most extraordinary "vote buying" campaign in contemporary political history. The tax breaks offered to those who choose to send their children to private schools is one of the most cynical of them all. When public schools (one of our last egalitarian institutions) are so harshly strapped for cash, we are going to see a regression to the "bad old days" of quality education being the right of privilege to those who can afford it. Taxes that should be used provide high quality public education, for the benefit of all, will disappear. And this is appalling.
As for WorkChoices. Well, whose "choices" are actually serviced here? As an Australian worker I fear for my own future and those of other workers. So far we have only seen the tip of the iceberg. If a coalition government is re-elected then I am convinced that our quality of life will suffer greatly with reduced income, increased working hours and even less job security. I feel that if Australians truly care about our nation's future, they will not re-elect a coalition government.
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Greg: Just remember that Howard bought in the GST & "Work Choices" without warning.  Just think what he is going to do in his next term!
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Les: If you want to work for less take home pay, less hourly rate, no penal rates, no holiday pay, no sick pay then vote for little John our undecided PM, undecided that is whether or when he'll hand over to smirking Pete. His arrogance precludes in his mind that Pete just might roll him too. Make no mistake at all if the Coalition get back in, our lifestyles as we know it will take a nosedive. If for no other reason, that you owe your kids a chance of a decent lifestyle, vote Labor. And don't listen to the anti union rubbish, I have found most unions these days are comprised of reasonable and responsible Australian people, just like you and me. Coalition OUT.
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Rod: If you want Fairness,Equality and Opportunity in the Workplace,then vote for the party that is committed to tearing up the Workchoices Legislation,the Australian Labor Party.
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Iris: It seems that Howard and Costello, although they may dislike each other on a personal basis, are absolutely Tweedledum and Tweedledee when it comes to their idologies.
Both are driving forces of the Institute of Public Affairs, which is so right wing, it only has one eye. That eye sees virtue in weaker environmental laws, it campaigns to end workplace safety and a general deregulation of the labour market and even campaigns against safety and work standards for truck drivers.
In fact, John Howard said in a closed speech to the IPA that "the Institute has played a role in shaping, as well as articulating, our Nation's values." What sort of values are these? Costello was a founding father of the HR Nicholls Society, another right wing orginasation with links to the Liberal party.  Where, on the 8th March 2006 Federal Finance Minister, Nick Minchin told a closed meeting that the Coalition wanted to push ahead with more changes to the Industrial relations laws.  In fact he even begged forgiveness from them that the Government's Work Choices laws did not go further. The Liberal party are desperate to win this election because by doing so, they can say that they have a mandate from the people to carry their workplace 'reforms' further.
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Keith: Please remember when casting your vote, John Howard and his convservative allies did not mention ONE WORD of Work Choices before the last election. Not one word. And then after he was elected, he claims a mandate to effect these draconian AWA measures that will have enormous impact on low and middle income families as time progresses. His defence for not mentioning it was that the Australian people knew he didn't like the IR system and he had often talked about making changes. This is not a defence, it is a political attempt to cover the deceitful tracks of the Liberal party who did not see fit to tell the people what their plans were. No, not a word.

Well, a mandate is only a mandate when the issue is put to the people during an election and they can make up their minds based on fact and open debate, not on what may be stored somewhere in the back of the PMs mind. John Howard must actually believe we are all naive enough to accept such a tall story.
 
Whilst 'Going for Growth', in theory is OK, it shouldn't happen to the detriment of those most at risk in our community. Corporate executives are not the ones who will feel the pain, their exhorbitant compensation packages continue to grow - tis the workers who will suffer.

Think long and hard before voting Liberal, and if you do and they are re-elected (heaven help us), be prepared for John Howard to see it as a mandate for more changes to IR, even though he stated the Coalition would not implement more changes to Workchoices if elected (we all know about core and non-core promises) - this is not even a promise, it is a statement to get relected before unleashing IR madness. Be afraid, be really afraid.
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Adam: In a democracy we all have a voice.

More people are employed at the cost of reducing pay for those who cannot bargain for higher pay or better conditions like youth and labourers.

I think the IR reform is out of touch with the Australia I want to live in and I hope you feel the same way!
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Good day to all. I will be voting for Mr Robert Mclelland (Labor)in the seat of Barton and will also be voting for Labor & the Greens in the Senate as they are the best bets in protecting our Rights at Work and also overturning very regressive Legislation that has been passed in the last 11 years.
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I've just resigned from a teaching position with much sadness and regret. In doing so I have relinquished a permanent full time position. I just couldn't go on with the annual deliberations between myself, my union and my employer. Isn't it a shame that in the 21st century women are still struggling to find the balance between work and family, often unsupported by the workplace. If I didn't work part time my family would encounter more financial hardship than we have in the past. Me working means that we can exist day to day. The future however is the great unknown. Shouldn't we be investing in SOCIAL CAPITAL???? Isn't that our future?
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Billy: KEVIN '07 - 'The Call.' When I see The Eureka Flag,  my personal favourite national artifact, I am reminded of the Southern Cross which flies above us all in the nocturnal sky. In my heart I hear 'The Call'.  That is best way I know how to describe it. I get misty eyed to be honest.  A feeling swells in my heart which reminds of the egalitarian values upon which our country is built. Working, for Australians, is in itself undoubtedly the singular, most central part of Our Way of Life. This election will go down as one of the great battles for democracy in Australian work places. 
It is an Ideaological War for Democracy. We are striving, day in, day out, in an ideaological struggle for balance in the policies of our Government, being fair to workers and bosses alike. Workers around the country may or may not be aware of the real dangers brought to our attention by the YourRights@Work Campaign, but they should. AWA's are designed to skew the balance of work outcomes towards the employer and reduce the 'cost' of workers wages and conditions on the 'profit/loss & balance sheets' of the business. Don't be the next experiment in John Howard's working underclass. VOTE LABOR in DAWSON
VOTE 1 - JAMES BIDGOOD. Unless of course you feel like having all your entitlements traded away for a few cents per hour? Or, How about a nuclear reactor in a backyard near you? KEVIN RUDD & the ALP will get my vote on the 24th because a vast number of issues that basically I think the Government has mismanaged &/or misrepresented. Make your Vote COUNT. Vote KEVIN '07! AWA's have stopped being registered by just about anyone outside Rio Tinto. That's because the FAIRNESS TEST to check  flexibility in arrangments with a no-disadvantage standard has been manifestly stemmed by Howard himself, who backflipped, introducing it himself. The WorkChoice laws are not good for business either.  They complicate the process by inviting the employer to punt short or wide of what is truly fair. Safety first, I say. Union work places are Safe Workplaces. After all, the Unions brought us the ol' standard of '8 hours work, 8 hours play, 8 hours rest' and such things as sick leave/holiday leave.
Unity of Labor has been a beacon of Hope for the world throughout the history of democracy.  Australians again, on the 24th, need that Unity now.  There is a feeling of pride when I hear 'The Call', the sense of unity with my fellow Australians. I believe in the 'Fair Go', a cornerstone of our society, the Right to Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining. I pray ALL Australians hear 'The Call'! My children deserve some protections of their Rights@Work.
So do all theirs. As do you, & yours. Australia Unite! VOTE KEVIN '07 & the ALP!
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Michael: No doubt we need a change of government. Realistically this means electing a Labor government. Voting Green first then preferencing Labor seems the way to go - the Greens have a clearcut, uncompromised opposition to WorkChoices.
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We have to get rid of the Howard government, we are all agreed on that. But we also need to send a message to the incoming ALP that our rights at work must be restored and respected. Send a message by voting first for those parties with the best workers' rights policies. Vote 1 Socialist Alliance, 2 Greens and then 3 Labor.
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David: On November 24 vote to restore Australia to the land of the fair go, a nation again generous of spirit in just in nature.
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Mark: What type of society do you want for your children and grandchildren?  Bring back the Fair Go All Round Australia.Vote Labor.
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Iris: John Howard asks young Australia not to desert him.  Why shouldn't they? It seems to me that he deserted both them and their parents over the ten years he has been in office.
Just to tody to the US, he sent our young men into an unwinnable war in Iraq on very flimsy evidence that proved to be false and he refuses to have an exit plan  to leave that war torn country.
He turned a blind eye to the 'Wheat for Cash" scandle.
He duplicitiously brought into law his work choice 'reforms' which have been proven to strip workers, not only of their pay, but of their entitlements.
He turned his back on David Hicks, an Australian citizen and left him to torture and rot in an American concentration camp.
He refused to sign the Kyoto Protocol, which is a starting point to help the world cope with climate change.
He reduced funding for our hospitals, universities, schools, dental services, public housing and aboriginal affairs. 
He promised to keep taxes lower, but they have risen six times since he made that promise.
He is demonising trade unions, who in the past have helped workers to get a fair wage and conditions.
He wants to bring nuclear power plants on to our soil instead of investing in solar, wave and wind power. His core and non-core promises are legend and show him to be a first class liar.
The list goes on and on, so I say, desert him. He's not worth a bucket of what Tony Abbott says 'happens'.
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Daemon: When John Howard lied to us about the children overboard, I thought he was just a desperate old man, needing to hang onto what in reality, is his life - living the high life, jetting all over the world etc., and soon to be relegated to Australia's history (in a not-too-grand light). Australia voted for him without knowing he was a liar, because we needed to protect our shores. When his lies became obvious we voted for him again, and so we have a known liar as our leader. Most Australians don't tell lies, as a matter of course. Why ever do we have a leader who lies constantly.
Iraq, to appease HIS friend George Bush- why do we have to be a little part of America.
Now $5 per hour wages, no rights and more lies. Are we going to pout him into Canberra again? I hope not. I expect Australia to think this time.
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Rob: Vote for a return to honour and honesty.
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Hi there, I must say,I use to be(I was)Liberal person,but ever since two years ago,when this IR Laws came in, I changed my mind about the Liberals.Why should we be going by American's laws,why we have to obey their's roles,can't John Howard make up his own mind and listen to Australian workers?Must he listen to Bush???? I am almost ready for retirement,but,what will happen to our kids and grandkids??Will they have to work 3 or more jobs too survive??? NO,this year my wote will DEFINITELY BE "LABOUR".We need NEW leader,one that will look after US WORKERS,our future and our kids future. So,people,workers,  WOTE LABOR!
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Nicole: These IR Laws that the Liberal and National Parties want to introduce are ruining young people, families and hard working people.

We must remember that many Australians striked for these conditions we now take for granted and we must remember and  honour the Unions for standing by and supporting them.

The Australian worker is the backbone to the economy to provide hospitals, roads and education facilities.
Please do not support the Howard government or the National Party as they do NOT see any value in the Australian worker.
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Laurin: If you vote for Howard it is a vote for Abbot and Costello almost immediately.
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Denise: It's time to take back our lives & vote Labor
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Just remember all the lies that little Johhnie and his band have told. Think about why we haven't heard anything from Ruddock or Anderson. Think about your children's work futures under a Johnnie govt.
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Sam: When you vote, reflect hard on which party is genuinely committed to improving funding and outcomes for education- schools, vocational education and training and universities. Education is our future.
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Carl: The Greens and the Socialist Alliance are promising to abolish Workchoices immediately. So number Socialist Alliance first, then Greens, then ALP, with the Liberals near the bottom. Or if the Socialist Alliance are only running in your Senate, vote Socialist Alliance in the senate and Greens in the lower house.
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Don't vote Howard back in because:
*He promised he would never bring in the GST
*He took us to war with a country on the other side of the world
*Work Choices legislation is unfair to workers
*Has lied and twisted the truth on numerous occasions to scare the Australian public so he could get his own way
* Etc, etc.... Need I go on. Howard does not deserve to be PRIME MINISTER.
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There are no choices in work-choices.
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Wayne: So the economy's strong?  That's great.  By the time I pay my mortgage, rates, health insurance, energy bill and phone bill, put fuel in the car, buy groceries, etc, I put my feet up and am grateful that I don't have to pay a tv licence fee.  If everything is so terrific why doesn't my dollar buy as much as it did 11 years ago?
On my wage I should be on easy street, but it aint easy.  I can only guess how those on minimum wage are doing.  Besides, a vote for John Howard is a vote for Peter Costello isn't it?  That thought fills me with glee.
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Michelle: Families are under pressure Mr Howard but how would you know that when your take home salary is something we could only dream of earning. I want job security and rights at work but you can't offer this Mr Howard.
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Steve: Howard will try to control inflation by lowering wagers with no plan to control the increasing price of food and fuel etc why doesn’t Kevin introduce a price increase control based on EB processes like our wage control. Go Kevin.
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My children deserve the right to have a future which includes full time employment. Why should we pass onto our children worse working conditions than what we enjoy? Don't let Howard buy another election with short sighted promises that will only drive interest rates higher.
Mr. Howard talks about trust build on past performances. I remember your past Mr. Howard:
"There will never ever be a G.S.T"
" Children were being thrown overboard by their parents"
"They have weapons of mass destruction"
"We'll keep interest rates low"
"It wasn't a core promise"
I suppose the state labor governments are to blame for your continued lies Mr. Howard - they seem to be the cause of all of your problems.
TRUST! Yeah sure Mr. Howard I trust you almost as much as I trust Mr. Costello.
You and your government deserve to be thrown out along with "Work Choices". Australia's future is to important to trust you again.
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John: Can your children afford another Liberal government, with their attacks on protections and entitlements in the workplace.  So much has been given away by this government, sweep them away
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Eric: Last election we heard about how the Liberal Government would not allow interest rates to rise, and we didn't hear about a proposal to change Industrial Relations.
Interest Rates have risen in spite of the Liberal government, and we hear nothing about Industrial Relations (even though there is an agenda to extend these changes further). When I vote, I'd like to have some idea of what I'm getting, and I like the idea of thinking about Australia in the future (environmental concerns, social equity through educational opportunity to all, support for those less fortunate in our society). Vote for a better Australia, not one where the economic advantages are shared by an increasingly less number of the population
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BM: It's time...again.
It's time Australia redressed Social Justice issues. It's time for that Aussie icon "A Fair Go" to mean something again. It's time to use that massive surplus for something meaningful, not just tax rebates. It's time to give back to the States in Education, Health, Transport, Law & Order. It's time to help the disadvantaged...the disabled and their carers, low income workers, NESB people, the refugees. It's time for "A Fair Go" to become more than just a cliche`.
It's time...
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Howard and his government have lied about, abused and ripped off many groups of people in Australia and overseas in the last 11 years. They have divided our community with their fear tactics and mean-hearted prejudices.

But one lie that can't work is the lie about our every day life at work. WorkChoices is a vicious attack on working people, giving arbitrary power to the boss over our lives. We know we need unions and collective rights to have a fair go at work and in our society.
Vote for the parties that will vote to abolish WorkChoices in the next parliament - Greens and Labor.
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You've seen the upheavals in industrial relations, the corruption of public office, the diminution of equality, the whittling away of public education, the cowardice about facing the facts of history of this country, the lies about trade deals with Iraq, the disgusting treatment of refugees, the me-tooism of rushing into a war that has destroyed countless lives, the curtailment of civil liberty, and Australia's complicity in torture for years under the current government, so why do you wait until the last minute before deciding whether the bribe they're offering is big enough to make you want more of the same? Just how much do you want your children and grandchildren to be disgusted with you? Vote the coalition and anyone who thinks the same OUT, and try to show some respect for others as well as yourself.
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Laurie: I've just read a book (Dark Dreams) about young peoples experience in detention centres under Howard's immigration laws. It made me feel shame to know Australia could do such things to refugees looking for a better life for their children. If every voter read it I would be surprised if Howard got 10% of the votes...
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MW: Aged Care nurses are already some of the lowest paid workers - you can earn more stacking shelves than you can caring for the elderly. Despite this WorkChoices is seeing the wages of aged care nurses decreased even further.  Penalty rates are being decreased, overtime and allowances removed. My wages are OK, but what WorkChoices is doing to the Aged Care Nurses is appalling.  What kind of society are we building that says the caring of our elderly doesn't derserve to be well rewarded. If you care about the aged in our society, and most of us will get old at some stage, then you have to vote out WorkChoices.
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Barbara: The Howard govt is the worst we have ever had.  Remember the lies(weapons of mass destruction, children overboard, workchoices) remember the dogs on the wharves, remember Reith.  Lets move on from this mob of liars.
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RB: John Howard would sell his soul for one more term as P.M. The amount of money promised to voters is over the top. Fear campaigns with unions show how ancient this coalition is! A fresh change is required. Use your common sense. Howard must go!
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Nick: It doesn't matter what you believe. Howard has to go. Australia needs a Fair Go. Vote Howard out.
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I'm not directly affected by work choices, but I'm not voting just for me.  I'm voting for my friends, family, kids and other Australians who don't have a good work situation and are powerless  to do anything about it.  stop worrying about interest rates.  if your pay keeps getting reduced and your penalties taken away, you wont have enough to pay back half your mortgage repayments.  think about all the other stuff you cant afford because the libs are only handing out money every three years!!!
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Look at what Mr Howard has put in place for all Australians.  He introduced Comcare and that resulted in the following conditions for all Australians:
1.The abolition of journey claims for injuries suffered while travelling to and from work 2.Greatly reduced lump sum compensation payments for permanent impairment 3. Greatly reduced death benefits 4.The virtual abolition of common law rights. He introduced AWA's which aren't fair to working families and only help big business.  Over 50% of these have failed the fairness test! He marginalises public education by giving 70% of the federal budget to private schools which only have 30% of the school population.  Is that fair? Heads up and look at what is happening.  In 2001 and 2004 he offers sweeteners to the average family and then does nothing for them over the duration periods.  How can Mr Howard be able to offer all these 'wonderful gifts'from the Government for only short durations rather than election time. Finally, Mr Howard has not come clean about a range of issues over the last 10 years and only now acknowledges them.  The voters are not silly and will show you what they want on election day..... Consistency, Better Infrastructure, Equity for all and maybe some TRUTH!
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Donna: If the coalition is re-elected this country will be subjected to another 3 years of corporate greed backed by government encouragement with workers being the 'meat in the sandwich'.  There will be little progress towards renewable energy targets with emphasis on increased uranium mining and land grabs in the Kimberleys.  There is no thought to our future generations and what will be left for them.
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Remember that our system runs on a preferential voting system, you don't need to vote for the major parties as your 1st choice for your vote to count if the minor party doesn't get in. If you like the minor parties vote for one of them 1st and then put one of the major parties if you want, your vote will still count.  
1 more thing, you don't for the prime minister, you vote for the party so if you vote Liberal hoping to get John Howard he could lose his seat and you'll get someone who the Liberal Party decides.
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Robert: We are tired of living in an economy - we want to live in a society, a society that cares more about people than money, a society that will do something now about climate change, a society that really helps the underpriviledged, the indigenous, the refugees.  We want to vote for a party that will spend excess funds on hospitals and education, not tax cuts. We want our troops home so that we can then work towards peace.
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Pam: Just 2 points - You would need to think very carefully about giving up your present employment status and conditions if your next job was to come under new IR laws. And from experience I think the bigger the organisation the harder it is to find out who it is in 'staff services'/ personnel/ whatever whose job it is to help if you have a problem.
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1 - Labor
Last - Howard
Its that simple.
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I really worry about job security and having the time to spend with my family. Under Howards laws there is no such thing as job security,your told accept these employment conditions or find another job.
I dont want to have to work weekends and public holidays for no financial reward and miss my children growing up .
The only way to STOP this is to vote out Howard and make help make Australia the land of opportunity for all not only for the rich.
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If the coalition wins a majority of seats in the House of Representatives, it will continue to be unaccountable until the new Senate sits in July 2008.  It will ram through even more unpopular ideology while it can.  The choice for voters is between accountable "coast to coast" Labor governments or an unaccountable and uncontrollable coalition government. 
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Our fathers and grandfathers fought tooth and nail to gain rights for the working man.  We were finally awarded sick pay, time off for families and a fair day's pay for a fair day's work. Don't let John Howard and his IR Reforms (so called Work Choices) take that all away. Be a responsible voter on November 24.
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Hilary: The anti-union scare campaign by the Liberal party is really just that, "scare" tactics and is based on very few instances of misbehaviour by unionists...and among politicians there have been examples of misbehaviour too. 
However, if you work in ANY job in Australia and have paid holidays, sick leave, lunch breaks, work a max 40 hour week and have OH&S and EEO policy to protect you...then all of these have been fought for over many decades by unions and workers.  These benefits can easily be taken away again in the name of 'productivity' and 'profit'...so be careful who you vote for and who you want to represent you and your right to live a decent life with a healthy lifestyle.
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Denise: We are lucky enough to live a democracy so who you vote for is up to you - but remember, If you care about workplace rights - which all of us should - the Liberals are the last party you should be voting for.  They are (not so slowly)eroding everything hard working aussies have battled for over the years.
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Lynne: Remember Mr. Minchin's address to a business group. "Apologising" for the IR laws that did not go far enough!! If the Liberal Government is returned, no doubt, Mr. Howard will tell us he had a mandate to go further.
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Not much difference between the two in many ways, but remember the lies. Howard is profoundly deceitful. This is important. Also try to think of others and not just your own hip pocket. We are all in this together. We need to support and help each other.
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Neville: Vote for the future of our children. Vote Labor
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Brett: Labor can't win a majority in the Senate this election therefore only a minor party will be able to hold the balance of power and ensure the scrapping of workchoices.  The Greens are the only minor party with this as a goal.  Therefore vote 1 for the Greens in the Senate.
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Ann: Dear Fellow Australians, Please think carefully what kind of country you wish to live in.  I for one want a fair and honest country.  It is not just about the ecomony and how much your country can do for you. What kind of lifestyle can we all afford without messing it up for future generations. Vote LABOR.
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It is all very well saying "Work choices hasn't affected me!" but what happens in a recession?
What will happen to your children's rights at work? Vote against work choices
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The Coalition parties prattle on about union domination in the Labor party, but worse can be said about the Howard Government and the Coalition.
The Business Council of Australia is simply a union of business leaders hell bent on destroying working families for the sake of greed and profit.
Add to that the Farmers Federation, who would dearly love to see workers rights and conditions slashed to the bone so they can take advantage of Howard's draconian laws to force people into highly demanding and demeaning work and they'll be others waiting in the wings for the re-election of the Howard led Coalition.
The current Government rants about union control if Labor is re-elected, but they're the greatest abusers of money and power supplied by the unions of big business.
A return of Coalition power will be a disaster for working families. It's not the upfront unions we have to worry about.
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We have not inherited our working conditions from our predesessors, we have borrowed them from our children. Think of our collective future. Vote Labor
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Stop! before you put pen to paper make sure you understand the consequences of returning a liberal government. Your vote has never been as important as it will be this election in terms of democracy and protection of what should be yours by right. Vote for the party that will protect your rights! vote Kevin Rudd's party to ensure these basic rights this election!
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Dear Fellow Citizen, This is a make or break election because of the Howard Government's WorkChoices legislation. Ask yourself, do you want to live in a society which believes every person has the right to fair pay and decent working conditions or one which is a dog eat dog existence, where only the powerful survive. The Howard Government's IR laws have caused immeasurable damage to this country, giving too much power to the employers and taking away the hard-won gains of workers. So, I ask you as a fellow Australian, to think about what this country really stands for - a fair go for all.
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Double the value of your vote and vote for the party that is proud of its association with unions and has pledged to shred Workchoices in its entirety - The Greens. If the Greens candidate isn't elected, your vote flows on at full value to help your second preference to be elected. If that is the ALP candidate, you are sending the ALP a strong message on union membership and the IR laws.
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Australians are world renowned for standing up for our mates. Lets stand up for our future! Vote Labor
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Sue: The real agenda of the Liberal Party is to support private industry to make a maximum profit. The Liberal Party thinks that is the way to a strong economy, and in their eyes it requires keeping wages low, especially in vulnerable industries like hospitality, retail, cleaning, and for vulnerable people like young people in their first job, and women needing to re-enter the workforce. We saw their true colours when they had control of the Senate and were not answerable to anyone. Now the election is on they make concessions, but if they were returned there would be no concessions and we would have an even wider gap between very rich and very hard up.
Labor on the other hand, understands how to maintain a strong economy, while protecting the most vulnerable. It sees that we live in a 'community' not just an 'economy' and that ordinary people are important and not just industry fodder.
Unions are not evil. They are an essential part of a democratic society. People who do not have power in terms of large wealth or status, need collective power or they suffer. For a century Australia has generally enjoyed a fair and just society, until the Howard government emphasised fear, greed and individualism at all levels of society including our industrial relations, environment, education, social services, housing, international relations, and civil rights. Another Liberal government would mean the 'fair go' would be gone forever.
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Australia is supposed to be a country where fairness counts. The Workchoices laws took a system which was fair and working well and tilted it in favour of business and against people with little bargaining power. Mr Howard had no mandate from the voters, and was only able to force the laws through because of senate control. This is a sneaky and mean government, not just with its IR laws but many other issues. Vote to return to a fair and generous Australia, the way we used to be before this government got arrogant.
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The main thing you must remember is that the new IR laws are only the beginning. People are losing their overtime and other benefits and having their pay reduced.
Trading your sick pay for a minor pay rise may seem like a good idea when you are well. But what happens when you break an ankle playing footy or are diagnosed with breast cancer? How long can you pay your mortgage without sick pay?
Howard pretended he could keep interest rates low. All of us with a mortgage now know what rubbish that was.
When are our troops coming back from Iraq? How many young, fit Aussies need to die before Howard will acknowledge it's time to come home? With all the lies and deception we have put up with over the last decade, it is time for a fresh start. The Liberals have got away with their arrogant dictatorship for too long.
They will promise you the world right now to buy your vote. But remember, there is no guarantee they will actually do these things once they get back in. They have been withholding your tax money for years and now they are promising to return some to buy your vote. Remember these statements when you deciede who to trust. "We will keep interest rates at record lows" and "There will never be a GST" Don't be bought. Vote for a change for the better.
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Steve: To all you voters who have not decided, I have a small message in regards to your current situation and the future of your kids or relatives in regards to employment and the IR Laws which take the rights away. the main issue is if you are a Queenslander then think when was the last time we had a Prime Minister. Now is the chance to show our state pride and vote for the benefit of Queensland. I know every promises but you and I know that everyone looks after their home first, so vote for a Queensland and Mr Rudd is the person who ahs the chance to do us proud. Thanking you all for your support.
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John: Care for the community
Care for the environment
On balance the Labour party delivers more
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The most important issues in this election campaign are Howard's I.R.laws and his ingorance on gobal warming, his total disprect for the working class of this great country by trying to create a poverty class of workers to create greater wealth for his mates at the top end of town. I include Peter Costello in this caegory. We have to maintain an I.R policy that is strong to look after penalty rates, leave loading, overtime rates and unfair dismissal laws for our children and grand children. Please do not give these people the right to take away our rights that so many people fought to achieve.
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Ryan: Howard's draconian IR laws are not fair for working Australians. Once again he is favouring a small section of Australian society and forgetting the majority of people who work hard in low income jobs. He has lied to the Australian people many times e.g. children overboard, Iraq, GST, interest rates etc... Time for new leadership. Time for a new direction towards a fairer society for all Australians, not just a priveleged few.
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Julie: think what the libs are doing to the old people who have worked all their life to get a house and have to sell it to get into a nursing home and disinheriting their children.  think about how much better off you will be voting for somebody who will keep their election promises for the workers both families and singles.  DO YOU WANT MORE OF THE SAME? THEN GO FOR LABOR AND CHANGE THAT, I AM, MY 96 YEAR OLD MOTHER IS AND MY HUSBAND.  DO THE RIGHT THING FOR EVERYBODY.....Julie Roberts
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Jenny: If you want your kids never to have job security, then vote for Howard and Costello. The results of the election will be decided by YOU!
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Barry: John Howard and the coalition have had eleven years to do something about health, education, climate change etc. All the things that impact on the quality of our daily lives. He has failed. He did introduce a GST after stating catergoricly that we would never have one. He did introduce retrograde I R changes ( I refuse to call them reforms) that had no previous exposure. But to my mind the biggest "crime" was to squirrel away billions of dollars to produce as a surplus for the sole reason of porkbarrelling at the forthcoming election. The fact that this obviously caused undue and unnecessary hardship to millions of Australians seems to be irrevelant.
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Just remember a vote for John Howard's IR laws may not look very daunting while we have full employment but what happens when the mining bubble bursts (ie our high Australian dollar could jepodise future overseas contracts)and unemployment starts to climb you will have to go into a "dutch" auction with your pay and conditions to compete for a job. Lets stick together against ruthless employers.
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Grant: Kevin Rudd will restore fairness and vision to our government. Vote 1 Labor for a fair go for all Australians.
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Paula: Who can you trust, Labour with a plan for the future or Howard with his core and non-core promises. Workchoices never mentioned in the last election compaign, but pushed in once they were in government due to control of the Senate with all the problems this has caused for Australian families. His intention to establish community boards (unpaid) to run major health facilities when this has failed elswhere in the world. Would you let me a nurse work on your car??
The Aboriginal solution. Having worked there, there is no deniing the need for improvements, but not the way this was pushed through. How would you like to be dictated to by stranges (in uniform) in your community or street telling you your child needs to be examined for abuse. The closing of the program which was providing you a job and earnt mony rather than a hand out. The taking over of your community so changes could be made without consultation. His plan to spend more on defence than on health, education and the environment. Finally hs "promise" to hand over the reins part way through the next term. Are we voting for Howard or Costello? First it was 18 months, now 2 years. Here goes another promise?
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Narelle: To all Australians ,This is an election, not only to vote for the Prime Minister, but to vote for the Senate and who controls it.  Since the last election, the Liberals have held Government AND the Senate, allowing them to pass legislation without opposition.   Please ensure that your vote counts towards 'keeping the bastards honest' in the Senate, with the correct checks and balances in place. Remember that all those who have voting power are representing those future generations and those who do not have a voice. Thank you.
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On the 24th make sure you punish poor policy, broken promises, and a lack of real accountability. Vote for a politician who will be more representative than repressive.
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Victoria: I think it is important to reiterate to the public that the reason that they have lunch breaks, tea breaks, have a right to unfair dismissal laws, a right to maternity leave/ paternity leave, a right to sick leave, a right to holiday pay etc is because unions have fought for them. The liberal party focus on things such as the waterfront disputes and things like that to discredit unions, when average people don't understand that many of the rights that we take for granted for fought for be the unions.
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Matt: I have been fortunate so far in that I have not been forced onto an AWA, but my concern is for those who have already been placed on these unfair employment contracts, and of course for my employment future. Our current government talks about a "fair go" and then strips away our unfair dismissal rights (I work in a small company with 90 staff). It seems that a "fair go" only means something when John Howard uses the expression for his own political spin. Please Australia, don't get sucked in by this Government, they have been proven to be untrustworthy over and over again - it's time to let thme know that they WILL NOT get away with it any longer!
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Karen: Get rid of WorkChoices.  Vote for respect, dignity and a fair go at work, at home and in our community.  Vote to change the government.
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I have 5 kids and when I filled out the census last time I wrote down occupation "shop assistant" for 4 of them.  They all work for major chains or franchsies and are paid reasonable wages while the SDA union negotiates for shop assistnants and maintains reasonable wage levels in the industry.  If the SDA is sidelined, there are plenty of kids ready to take their jobs for less money under AWAs.  Our family needs their incomes while they are living at home and studing.  We cannot take a chance on Workchoices and why should we!
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Phillip: John Howard says he supports mateship.  But he will fine you $15,000. If you discuss your workplace agreement with your mates.  It seems to me that he wants "mates" to stab each other in the back on his AWA's while employers drive wages down.  He has lied to us for 11 long years.  Ask yourself how many promises he will keep this time
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Workplace harassment will increase with IR LAW. We will not have job security to send our kids to private school and buy accomodation.
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Tony: If not for your own future, think of your childrens'. Don't drag them back 100 years.
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Tereza: Staff talk- We do not need unions we can negotiate our own agreements?
OK so why do organisations/employers offer at risk bonus, do managers receive at risk bonus at the discretion of CEO's. Highly doubt it. So who has given you the right to equal pay, who has stood by you when you requested extra time with the family after birth- Maternity leave. Not your employer or the govt the Unions So who has helped shape our Industrial Relations system to one of fairness and equality with employees or employers.  If a high trust and comitted government makes way for a better society, so why has the Liberal coalition done everything possible to undermine trust in the workplace .It is a given employees are ever more sceptical of managers and their motives, Howards fear campaigns are evidence. People are too scared and want to disassociate them selves from unions. So what will the future be like? Will this stop them from taking away Maternity leave, overtime pay no this is just the beginning. Why would a CEO or any manager try and find out who is a union member if they do not feel threatened .They would only feel threatened if they something to hide. Their is no transparency with Work Choices. If Howard was so serious why does he not advise his constituencies how many times have we breached the ILO convention. Union's are about social solidarity, not about milking the system, and scare campaigns using millions of dollars to entice fear into the public. Why not use the (tax payers funds)  to invest  in infrastructure , education & training.
People are just afraid they won't have a job if I don't sign the agreement. Why scare people, in any given organisation this is what you will hear. People are afraid .......Why we have been conditioned to fear our leaders. Well why are we paying such high rates of income tax, why do Public schools receive less funding than Private.
Why are we the only country in the OECD to positively discriminate in favour of lockouts and against strikes<(Hall cited in Briggs, 2005) WHY.....the fines are ludicrous.Workchoices will not make Australia more competitive or efficient. Their is no conclusive evidence to suggest this.  Our future depends on fairness and equality,the Liberal Govt are not offering this> Open your eyes now before it is too late, it will only get worse and before you know it waitresses will be earning $4.25 an hour and tips.Really..... this is not the path we want to follow.
OPEN YOUR EYES, if it feels wrong it is wrong........WORKCHOICES HAS TO GO
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Rachel: We all know that the ALP is way in front in the polls, but this often means that people think "OK, they dont need my vote"... use your vote & vote AGAINST howard..make it count & lets all GET RID OF HIM...
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What is more important to you than your children?
What is more important than their future? Their working rights and conditions. Their safety as they put in a fair day's work for a fair day's pay.
You can not, you must not desert them!
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Paul: Please think of he sacrifices that the normal working people have made over the last 200 years to make Australia a better place.The freedoms protections and workplace conditions that will be further attacked if the LIberals continue their attack on the working class. John Howard is trying to destroy our way of life and turn us into a mini America with an underclass that will never get ahead or have a decent life.He is against a fair go . What person would leave the world in a worse condition for the following generations? How can he promise all this money now the election is opn why wasnt he fixing things before?
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Im voting labor.  but to those undecided voters. howard is going to retire and i dont want to be run by a couple of comedians ie.  abbott and costello.  if labour dosn't work out then all we have to do is give them one term,  so what is the risk .  be brave australia and make the change
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Vote for the Australian Labor Party: if you have had enough of watching the average Australian get shafted.
If you want to preserve what we have left of the "Fair Go" principle that those who have gone before us fought for.
"I am not suffering from the implementation of the Liberal plan. In fact I'm doing it easy but enough is enough, there needs to be a balance introduced before capitialists take over society and we then except poverty in this great land.  I want to be successful but not at the risk of spliting a nation into Rich and Poor.  Come on Aussies, we are one but we are many"
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It doesnt matter who I vote for really all politicians screw you over in one way or another!!!! Having said that I will be voting Labor mainly because I do not think that John Howard should be allowwed to simply hand over to Costello.........thats not who people are voting for. I believe if Howard chooses to vacate the job half way through then there should be another vote to elect who the people want, after all its suppose to be the peoples vote for who they want not who Howard wants in!!!!!
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The Liberal Party's plan for Australia's future is to give even more power to employers by forcing ALL workers onto individual contracts that undermine wages and conditions. Job security will be a thing of the past, not a pleasant thought when every dollar of a family income is crucial to meeting mortgage obligations.

In contrast, the Labor Party has a clear vision for Australia's future where everyone is entitled to a fair go and those who work hard are rewarded. Under Labor, Australia will be a nation of well educated people with ready access to world class health care. We should be setting an example for the rest of the world when it comes to climate change initiatives and not blindly following whatever greedy capitalist ideology the United States dictates.

The upcoming election is your chance to make a real difference in Australia's future. It's time for a change. That change will see a Labor government that cares about people as well as the economic bottom line. Make your vote count by choosing the Labor candidate in your electorate.
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Careena: My message to viewers is simple the future is our children and their career paths.  Here in Geraldton I feal that a lot of people are interested in what the future is for their children in the work force.  A few home truths about how for example it is common knowledge that our kids are been taken adventage of by working long hours unpaid, working through lunch breaks and scared to say anything or simply dont know any better in a lot of cases they are being exploited in apprentiships by being paid low wages and expected to survive on these.  Most kids are either forced to live on less than their rent alowance or stay at home adding the financial burden on parents.  If they are adults then pay them adult wages as in some cases they are being exploited by the bosses and this fear that they are going to be sacked hangs on some heads. They dont know their rights and live in fear.  My daughter is a hairdresser, works all day without a break.  Works like a senior in her apprentiship  .  Brings in clientel and runs the show basically on apprentiship wages.  Kids dont understand.  Stand up for our future through our Kids and hit em hard...Careena
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Women suffer most from the reduction in take home wages under the Howard industrial laws and they will be reduced even more if Howard re-elected...don't believe their lies...Costello can do as he pleases as they are Howard's promoses..not his..core or non core??
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Kristen: If you vote the current government back in, it gives a strong message to politicians that it is OK to behave the way this government has - arrogantly and with little respect for people. ETC (decide for yourself if you are pleased with the way this government has behaved). Keep Australia the strong democracy that we deserve to have by electing a fresh government.
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Katalina: Don't hesitate. Think of your children's future.  Work Choices is wrong for you nor your children.
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Don't risk voting Liberal/National - because you'll be risking your children's future quality education, job with reasonable conditions & the environment.
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Raynmond: If you don't vote workchoices out for yourself please do it for your children. This system doesn't work for all levels of business in a fair and equitable way. Our forefathers fought for these rights that have served Australia well for many years
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Don't let Howard take away our hard fought for conditions.  If Howard wins Govt this election, the Liberals will slash our working rights.  Remember when all Australian workers had rights to claim for unfair dismissal.   Well, first they changed it to no unfair dismissal rights if you work for an organisation with less than 20 staff.    Then they made it the same for if your organisation has less than 100 staff.

What will it be next?  What's to stop them from doing this to all workers?  And what about things like annual leave, paid parental leave, overtime and penalty rates, etc..... the list goes on..

Don't let the Liberals do this to Australian families.  Vote for Labor!
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Darren: A vote for Howard is a vote for a dim future for our kids. Make your vote count - vote against the Liberals and their unfair HR laws.
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Gregory: In the most important election in recent decades we have a party who are riding the wave of a resources boom and unparalleled user pays psuedo taxing to provide their global mates with record golden handshakes while the planet is warming up, the workers are being trodden on, the skills have left the country and the truth, more then ever before, has been discarded.We need a change.
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A vote for Howard's gang is a vote for the complete end of democracy in the workplace -the will take Work (No) Choices even further - please just don't give them the chance!
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Elizabeth: Making changes in our lives is difficult. Most people do not have the resources to work for the changes they want to see by themselves. For most of us, working together, sorting out our differences collaboratively and moving towards more just outcomes collectively is what we can do. That is why the constant anti-union rhetoric of the coalition is so damaging. I do want a more just and fair country, and I do want to work with others to achieve that. The workplace is a central part of this, as it is where many of us spend so much of our lives. The coalitions IR laws promote a culture of individualism and reinforce the already considerable power of the wealthy. Voting against the coalition and for a party that supports unions, opposes the current IR laws, and has a clear perspective on social justice is what I will be doing.
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JA: Think Workchoices, think Climate change, think about the future of your children and grandchildren  AND vote the Coalition out of office!
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In 11 years the Howard government has done only three things: introduced a new tax the GST; took Australia into an unwinnable war in Iraq (no mention in the campaign launch)and hit working men and woman with the unfair Workchoice laws!!!
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In times past, well within my memory in the workplace, most employers were aware that if they looked after your staff, the staff would give of their best in their work. This was known as 'loyalty', a word we hear so little these days, but a word which is capable of holding together our whole working society. The current I.R. laws have torn apart any sense of loyalty and trust in the workplace, replacing it with fear, resentment, and anger. I cannot believe that this is really how people would like to live their lives. We are not powerless. We CAN change our situation. We CAN vote for a government that is committed to looking after all Australians, not just uncaring share-holders. We CAN vote against a government that has, for too long, tried to make sure we are subservient, impotent and     disengaged with each other. I, for one, do not want to be like this.   
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Its time for change.The "Born to Rule" bunch are tired and totally lacking in vision for a richer quality of life in Australia.They think Tax cuts are their only answer.They seem incapable of putting this gigantic windfall in to something lasting and valuable. The windfall will not last.Education.Health,Roads,alternative energy,Our rivers/
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Think about your vote!  Think about the future of Australia and what we all want for our country. 
Think about the future of your children and their children, for without action on climate change, rights at work, a secure country without threats of terrorism from governments, we have nothing but a dictatorship in a deteriorating world.
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The Howard / Costello for PM campaign is trying to use the scenario of all Labor States  and Labor Federal control as well to scare voters. They say it would be the first time ever that Labor are completely in charge. they say this would be "A Bad Thing". Nothing could be further from the truth - Currently the main aim of the Liberals is to make the State Governments look as bad as possible, to underfund and exploit the States to the hilt.
Imagine a football team where the Captain and coaching staff want the rest of the  team to look bad... Lets get some teamwork happening in Australia - Vote Labor to reunite the team!
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The Liberal Party neglected our views and concerns about a range of issues until the election was called. Now, all of a sudden, they care...?! I don't believe you Mr Howard!
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These IR laws itroduced by the Howard goverment are the biggist attact on wagers levels & living standards of ordinary Australians in the history of this nation. They will take away our rights of colective barganing & have individual workers having to exciept below standard wages & conditions
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Being this government, with the implementation of the GST, the one that has had more money than any previous government, (that is why they have such surplus), it is easy for them to buy votes by suddenly making believe the Australian public that they care for people. Hopefully voters realise how dangerous is to vote them in again because if they win they will go further with more AWA's, privatization of education and health and all other public services that should be free to tax payers. They have forgotten that the money belongs to all citizens that work hard, pay taxes and receive very little for it. All liberal governments are the same. They work to favour the capital to please corporations and share very little with those that build this country. Wake up Australians! This is not a people's government!
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THINK ABOUT IT and ask yourself - what has the Liberal Government accomplished in 10 years of office?  Apart from ripping off the public for the GST (which they now intend to give a miniscule amount back in tax rebates) and which John Howard said he would not bring in if he was elected (just one of the lies), they have been basically sitting on their hands!  Australia is way behind in broadband connectivity compared to Asia and the rest of the world,   not to mention the fact that some our experts in solar power have been seconded overseas to California and other places which could have been invaluable to Australia (not just for global warming either).  Not to mention Work Choices, (choices my A---), it's just a con and I wish people could see it.  How shortsighted are the Liberals?  We need a Government with foresight not hindsight!  I KNOW how I will be voting. 
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When casting your vote on the 24th. November, please pause to think about all the times that John Howard has misled the Australian people. On Iraq, AWB, Asylum seekers, children overboard, work choices and on and on and on. Don't put your trust in this man again, he has a dishonest track record and does not deserve to be re-elected.
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Put Howard last on your voting cards. He puts our families, jobs and futures last on his books. Vote last for howard.
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Think of your childrens' future, vote for the candidate in your area who will deliver on a fair workplace, and responsible management of our environment -  not just splurges of money before an election!
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Anthony Beck: This election will determine the very essence of our community.Only the ALP can resolve our involvment in the Iraq war, deal with climate change , address the key issues driving productivity including infrastructure , education and training .

As important as these issues are , I am more motivated by the  ALP commitment to restore some sense of dignity  and social justice to our community after more than ten years of a government cynically driving down human and workplace rights , demonising those in need and acting in favor of sectional interests.
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BB: Sick of not knowing where your vote actually went after all the preferences are counted? - then simply take the time to number all of the boxes - then you've distributed your own preferences without your vote being surreptitiously shifted via backroom preference deals. We cannot afford another term with the government of the day (whomever gets into power) holding the balance of the power in the Senate - with only 6 pieces of non-government legislation being passed in the last term!
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Colin: What we need most as workers is the right to a fair go, and to get that we need to be both members of a union and to support political parties with the best polices. The Greens are the only parliamentary party that promises to abolish Workchoices in full, and that demands our number one vote. If there is a new Labor Government a strong Greens vote will pressure them to the right thing, abolish Workchoices and create a fair industrial relations system for all.
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John Howard has already promised Peter Costello his job. Actually he has promised it him a couple of times and reneged on the deal. So this election remember his non-core promises of the past and think aboout how non-core a promise can be if he is not even going to stay in the job long enough to carry the promise out. If John Howard is re-elected how accountable will his party be for the promises he has made ?
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A wise decision is one taken over a longer period of time,we have had nearly 12 months of Rudd vs Howard.Dont let the next 10 days sway your vote too much,Look at the polls Australia has made the right choice already!
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Anthony: I can't understand why nobody has mentioned the fact that Howard is the one who clearly said 'There will be no GST' then introduced it once he was elected!  Clearly voters cannot believe a word he says! 
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Don't give the Howard government the tick of approval. If they win the next election they will take it as a sure sign that they have received a big tick of approval for everything they have done. G.S.T, Tampar, the poor treatment of our Indigenious people, their poor treatment of refugees, their politics of fear and division, War in Iraq, the Brian Hicks debacle, AWA's - Workchoices, Nuclear reactors in Australia, no policy on climate change until the last 11 months, do I need to go on. We do need a fresh start. Does saying that they are the only people with the experience to run the country, mean we are stuck with a stale, arrogant Government forever? They owe much of the comfortable economy they have enjoyed to the ecomonic policies of  previous labor goverments. Their scare mongering campaign about Union people in the Labor Party doesn't carry any weight.  These former union people have genuine negotiating skills, many have run or do run businesses. There is a determinatio  n in the Labor partly to run a thriving economy while keeping fairness in the workplace.  We have to put our humanity, care for the planet and economic management together to adavnce our beautiful country Australia.  Please don't vote Coalition. Don't give the Howard Government the tick of approval, tick them off, big time.
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My biggest fear is that people will be sucked in by the liberal anti-union smear campaign. The TV advertisement with dramatic music and black and white photo's of various strikes and union action from a very distant past....Then it flicks to the present and says oh woe is us if ex-union officials are in parliament.....Firstly , I think Labor should have a counter ad:everyone knows the third speaker on a debating team leaves their final words hanging in the air. If John Howard gets in again it will be because labor lost, not because he won....Anyway!As a 38 yo, I vaguely recall some of the union action referred to in the add- I also recall most women were stay at home mums, working conditions didn't hold a candle to those we enjoy today, and all the shops shut at midday on Saturday!!Yes, a completely different economic and social climate-Im sure people can dredge up things associated with the Liberals from that era that would affront todays voters as well. Australians need to  be reminded that if the best johnny and his mates can do is try and scare people into not voting for Labor, its a reflection of their underhanded policies, lack of regard for the average working Australian, and a party firmly entrenched in the past, too busy looking backwards to move up and on. The formal credentials of the labor MP's may  or may not stack up against the pompous liberals, but for me, who has previously always voted Liberal, I would much prefer my future to be in the hands of a party that can relate to my economic status, that understand access to university education is important for my children even if I cant afford to pay for it all up front, that affordable child care underpins my capacity to contribute to the community and the economy, that I wish my leader to acknowledge the past wrongs to my indigenous brothers and sisters, and that as a parent, Australia being at the global forefront of climate change strategies is not just important, but imperative!!
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KH: Protect our rights at work. Don't let us fall prey to Workchoices. Give the workers back their rights and vote Labor.
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Since the IR laws were introduced 3 of my children have been directly disadvantaged.  All of them had their employment conditions altered so that they lost overtime rates, meal breaks, and public holiday pay rates, and were expected to work longer hours (for my son up to 12 hours a night 6 nights a week for $17 hour - he's 30 yrs old with a family to support).  We believe in working hard in fair working conditions.  These laws have allowed too many employers to impose UNFAIR working conditions.
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I can't afford to go to uni and I can't find a doctor who bulk bills. As a nurse, if the Liberals' IR laws are extended, I risk losing my penalty rates: the only thing that means I am able to earn a reasonable income.

Tax cuts are meaningless if we and our children can't get proper jobs, afford to go to uni, or get proper health care.

I would rather pay taxes and live in a country where everyone has access to the education, health care and jobs they need.
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Toni: If you wish to ignore the progress and improvements made in Worker's Rights and in the IR laws made since Federation, then vote Liberal as they are sytematically taking away the rights of the workers and everone else. If, however,  you believe that we have the right to family time, to public holidays, to weekends, and to wages above the poverty line, then don't vote for the Liberals.
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Danielle: Young people entering the workforce for the first time deserve a better deal than LESS than what our parents had.  A decent safety net and the right to bargain collectively should be a basic right.  It's a lot harder being a young worker under Howard, so lets get rid of him.  Put the Liberals last.  If not now, when?  If not you, who?
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I can not support Work Choices. I have 9 grandchildren and they should not be put into the unequal position of having to represent themselves in bargaining with employers who are in a position of power.
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Peter: Are you seriously apprehensive about your,and your children's financial future in the workplace if Liberal wins this election. Do you ever wonder why, during the term of of this government that virtually every service which provides even basic needs to the Australian public always struggle for financial support THEN come election time Santa Claus arrives with unlimited funds for things you haven't even thought of, all because the Australian people deserve it.
Do you ever wonder what will happen in this country if Howard DOES step down and YOU KNOW WHO takes absolute control.
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If you vote for the Coalition, you will be voting for an arrigant Peter Costello. Neither John Howard nor Peter Costello can be trusted.  They lied to us about TAMPA and the children overboard, about the so called Iraqui weapons of mass destruction, about not increasing the number of Australian service men and women in Iraq and on so many other issues.  In having a majority in the Senate as well as the Representives, they introduced their secret agenda on work relations.  Howard and costello canoot be trusted.
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Would you like one of John Howard's nuclear power stations near you?
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Mark: Just remember who holds the all-time record for high interest rates here in Australia, one John Winston Howard at a whopping 22%. I bet the PM forgets to mention that one to the average worker while he's on his fear-campaign trail.
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Howard cannot be trusted with our children and grandchildren's future.
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The election is about what we want our country to look like into the future and the choice is clear:
a. The Howard model, similar to the USA reality, where the "dog eat dog" principle is to the fore and there is now a class of working poor who can't afford healthcare, housing and their neighbourhoods are rife with crime. OR
b. The Rudd model where fair wages and working conditions are integral in work places. Healthcare is available and improved access to dental care and the housing crises is addressed. The Australian ethos is an integral component eg caring for one and other. And most importantly have a vision and plan to advance OUR country.
The choice is obvious because anyone who doesn't care about ordinary Australia families and working conditions certainly doesn't deserve to lead our country or our vote.
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Pam: Vote Consciously
Align with Truth & Justice
Help save our democracy
Vote for the rights of working people not rich people
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CAN YOU TRUST John Howard?
Do you really believe that the Howard Govt is responsible for the resources boom or for the unprecedented demand by China?
Do you believe that AWA's have created employment or is it the fact we have a skills shortage?
Do you believe that the man who has consistantly refused to accept the facts on global warming is suddenly a convert 6 weeks from an election?
Do you believe that throwing money around to win an election is responsible ?
So, CAN HE and PETER COSTELLO BE TRUSTED AGAIN???
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Where would working Australians be without Unions? Have a look at income and working conditions in Asia let alone the good old USA!
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Debbie: Just look at Mr Howard's lovely retirement that he is getting free plane trip to overseas with his family as many as he want to travel, house already paid for, gold card for his pension such as phone and electricty and many more other better off to those on normal pensioners get
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Graham: One of the great untold success stories of the Howard Government is the drop by almost 10% of home ownership in Australia. Home ownership is now at its lowest level since the Second World War. For the first time even England has a higher home ownership rate than Australia.

Home ownership gradually builds financial independence. Home ownership ensures financial independence because over the longer term, rents will always rise faster than home repayments. Financial independence means you are less likely to be forced to accept lower rates of pay.

Housing affordability is at its lowest levels because the Howard Government, has given huge tax deductions to four main Property Investment Groups (PIGs), encouraging them to buy more than $20 billion of available housing land in Australia.

According to the Master Builders Association, actual building costs have only risen by four % per year over the last five years, while due to the tight supply of housing land, housing blocks have risen sixteen % per year over the past five years.

The Howard Government, are driven by greed. Huge profits for themselves and lower rates of home ownership and affordability for Australian workers.
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We do not have a Charter of Human rights, we do not have a legally enforcable Constitution - DO NOT ALLOW THEM TO TAKE AWAY OUR ONE AN ONLY REMAINING RIGHT TO HAVE A SAY THROUGH OUR UNIONS!!!  Vote for Human Rights, vote for fair and equitable representation of ALL australians -not just the advantaged.  Vote for strategic and long term strategies to improve resources into Education, Health, Disability and Aged CAre (the human services). If we do not care for our most vulnerable we will never see the end to social problems in this country.  Be thoughtful. Be determined to make this country a better place to live for all.
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John: When voting I would hope that people consider the future of IR protections in this country. It is not fair that these rights, which our parents fought for, are being taken away for the sake of bi