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Thursday 30 June 2005
'I was in need and you gave me a place to work.'
A plea for a fair go for the vulnerable
by the Bishop of Tasmania, John
Harrower
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The Government campaigned in the last Federal
election on industrial relations reform. It can
be said that they have a mandate from the
electorate but their current proposal has gone
beyond their pre-election statements. The
interaction between certain of the Federal
Government's welfare reforms and work force
participation is now clearer and of considerable
concern.
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What I can do is plead for a softening of its
effects on vulnerable people...
- The working poor (2 million of Australia's 9
million paid workforce are in part time jobs,
some because they are caring for children)
- These workers will be most vulnerable to
unfair dismissal; a right which will be taken
away from 90% of people (especially in our home
State, Tasmania, where so many businesses are
small, employing fewer than 100 people);
- People on a disability pension will suffer a
new work test at 15 hours of work, making it
punitive in fact to work longer;
- Sole parents will have to undergo work tests
when the youngest child reaches six; however,
most jobs go beyond school hours and lack the
flexibility to care for children (e.g. in
sickness or school holidays). Will the
government fund after-school care and ensure
flexible working arrangements?
- Some workers need someone to represent them
because they may not have the skills and
experience to represent themselves.
Representation also helps to re establish
healthy relationships in the workplace following
the inevitable disagreements and hurts during
workplace negotiations of agreements both with
the employer and between workers.
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The value base for this plea: Jesus' concern
for the weak and vulnerable.
Our society is relatively rich - we can afford
to be generous.
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Contact
Media Officer - Rev. Stephen
Carnaby 0417 343 710
Read previous media
releases.
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