Will The Government Accept This Report

[grandmoon]

Institute of Public Affairs calls for the abolition of the minimum wage

It has been a feature of Australia’s social safety net since not long after federation - a minimum wage not set just by market forces, but that considers the living needs of a worker.

But the Institute of Public Affairs - an influential free-market think tank well-connected within the Liberal Party - wants Australia’s minimum wage abolished.

The institute’s Aaron Lane said there was a ‘‘moral case’’ to abolish minimum wages to allow people to experience the ‘‘dignity of work’’.

‘‘Our position is an ideological one and we don’t shy away from that,’’ he said. ‘‘This position can be seen as heartless and wanting people to work for a low wage. But it’s about empowering individuals in being able to choose their own employment.’’

Mr Lane said the current system priced thousands of people out of work and forced employers to cut back staff hours.

‘‘I’m not so concerned about the working poor, I’m more concerned about the unemployed poor,’’ he said.

‘‘Continuing to increase the minimum wage is a threat to the dignity of the unemployed.’’

For this year’s minimum wage decision, to be decided by the Fair Work Commission in June, the institute wants to see it frozen at $16.37 an hour, but its longer-term goal is for there to be no minimum wage at all.It is a radical position.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/institute-of-public-affairs-calls-for-the-abol...

[acacia_pycnantha]

Abolition of the minimum wage would be electoral suicide. Remember what happened to Mr Howard and Workchoices? I laughed 'till I stopped.

[*crikey*mate*]

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@spotweldersfriend wrote:
A lot of mums and dads with teenage kids voted for Tony.If he introduced those measures,their kids could be working for as little as $6 per hour.There'd probably be a double digit swing to Labor.Bring it on 🙂

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See, I don't have a problem with this in some situations.

Kids often need experience and work experience in a particular field or with a particular employer. It's virtually impossible for a kid to organize "work experience" unless it is through their school these days.

No different to an adult.

The possibility of being able to say to a potential employer "let me work for you for a few days at a reasonable cost (or free) so that you can see how good I am, or if I will suit your company" etc etc, might help a few people to secure actual jobs.

Many employers baulk at new staff. Actual costs to employ a new staff member are about $2 to $3 thousand dollars. That's a lot of money for an employer to risk if the person doesn't turn out to be suitable or if the employee doesn't like the job and leaves quite quickly.

Plus some people are happy to do work experience for a few weeks/days in a place, for exactly that - to learn something particular from that company, but do9n;t actually want to leave the job they have.

As I said, this is opened for abuse. But it would be good if the worker had the option to offer to work for free or inexpensively for situations like this.

[silverfaun]

Remember the recession we had to have under Keating?? millions out of work, lines a mile long with people complaining they had no experience but couldn't get a job, any job, to gain experience.

Things are improving, job ads are  up and the free trade agreements will kick in so we can all enjoy a great lifestyle, but until that time comes we have to be pragmatic.

The dark storm clouds we are seeing in Europe and the USA will  come our way, we have to be ready to adjust to all situations.

[debra9275]

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@boris1gary wrote:

Looked up aaron lane, the one with such heartwarming words on the dignity of the unemployed in the op, is this the same fellow

youngliberal executive member

Aaron Lane - Vic President

Aaron Lane was elected President of the Victorian Young Liberals in November 2012, after serving as the Male Vice-President from 2010-2012. He attended Deakin University, and worked to re-establish the Deakin University Liberal Students Club. He has completed undergraduate studies in law and economics at Deakin University, and has recently completed a Master of Arts in theology at MCD University. His policy interests include economic policy, industrial relations and law reform. He is currently employed as a lawyer in a commercial law firm.

from the ipa

About Aaron Lane

Aaron Lane is a Research Fellow at the Institute of Public Affairs. His research is focused on economic policy and industrial relations. Prior to joining the IPA, Aaron was a lawyer at a national law firm, and has lectured in law and economics at Deakin University and the Melbourne Institute of Business and Technology. Aaron completed his undergraduate study at Deakin University, graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce (majoring in economics, international trade & economic policy) and a Bachelor of Laws (Honours). He also holds a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice from the College of Law, and a Graduate Diploma of Theology & a Master of Arts from the MCD University of Divinity.

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well, that figures lol

[i-need-a-martini]

Lower the minimum wage?

Thank god for unions.

[spotweldersfriend]

Workchoices. Another lie.Double dissolution please.

[*crikey*mate*]

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@i-need-a-martini wrote:

Lower the minimum wage?

Thank god for unions.

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as it stands now, a lot of people are prevented from gaining valuable work exoperience and opportunities to increase their skills base and make them more employable.

I think we need a minimum wage, but broader scope needs to be applied for those wishing to avail themselves to the above.

[boris1gary]

‘‘moral case’’ to abolish minimum wages to allow people to experience the ‘‘dignity of work’’.

Ahhhh the "dignity of work"........let the dignified conservatives show us the way

sooo is that what arfur sinodinos was doing, experiencing the "dignity of work" -  $200,000 for how many hours of "work"

Hard work, lobbying your mates -AWH paid $71,500 to a lobbying company run by Liberal Party figure Paul Nicolaou.

$5000 for a meeting with newman, the man is on slightly less that the president of the USA - Counsel assisting the ICAC, Geoffrey Watson, asked if the money was "the price of meeting Campbell Newman".

Mr Nicolaou replied: "Yes, if you look at it that way."

[*crikey*mate*]

well, to be fair, my OH had to pay a specialist $900 20 years ago for 5 minute consultation for a work cover claim.

The Dr, got him to bend to the left, bend to the right, touch his toes, and rotate his hips. That was it. Then wrote the report saying he had 15% movement through his Lumbar region.

That's $10,800 an hour, 20 years ago.

[boris1gary]

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@diamond-halo wrote:

well, to be fair, my OH had to pay a specialist $900 20 years ago for 5 minute consultation for a work cover claim.

The Dr, got him to bend to the left, bend to the right, touch his toes, and rotate his hips. That was it. Then wrote the report saying he had 15% movement through his Lumbar region.

That's $10,800 an hour, 20 years ago.

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But the Dr was "dignified" while rorting, I mean working..