Another national shame: OHS

May 28, 2009 in Campaigns, Rants & Raves
Tags: ACTU, federal government, human rights, information, insurance, occupational health & safety, OHS, online activism, petition, politics, public health, public health issues, public policy, Rights at Work, state government, trade unions, unions, Victoria, Work Safe Australia, workers rights

I’ve been a long time member of the Rights at Work email list and have followed the various campaigns that have been run through the site. This post is not a critique of the site but a comment about a current campaign.

So much for reconciliation in Victoria

May 27, 2009 in Campaigns, Rants & Raves
Tags: advocacy, ALP, Australia, Greens, human rights, Indigenous Australians, John Brumby, Liberals, NGOs, political parties, politics, public funding, reconciliation, Reconciliation Victoria, state government, Victoria

Yesterday was National Sorry Day. Last year the Prime Minister of Australia finally delivered an apology for the deeply disturbing and paternalistic policy of stealing Indigenous children from their families and homes. Colloquially known and rightfully known as the “Stolen Generations”. I’ve posted a few times about this topic and find it remarkable that despite this the Government and Opposition maintain what looks like more paternateralistic policies for Indigenous Australians.

Victorian Liberals offer nothing new

May 24, 2009 in Elections, Rants & Raves
Tags: accountability, advertisements, Australia, ballot box, Brimbank Council, Casey Council, John Brumby, opinion, political parties, politics, public education, public health, public policy issues, state government, Steve Bracks, Ted Baillieu, transparency, Victoria, Victorian Greens, Victorian Labor Party, Victorian Liberals, voters

The Victorian Liberals have nothing to offer. And to provide further proof to that is the launch of their “new” online attack advertisements. This time they’ve replaced Steve Bracks with John Brumby; true the content has been updated but they’re still not much different to their last round of “attack” ads.