Why you've got a spring in your step

Prime Minister John Howard has claimed that IR laws contributed significantly to the latest low unemployment figures.

"It can fairly be asserted that the removal of the unfair dismissal laws has made a very positive contribution to a reduction in unemployment.”

“Pigs might fly,” was Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd’s response when asked for his thoughts on Howard's claim.

Rudd said that the reduction in the unemployment rate was due to the mining boon in the economy.

Many remain sceptical of unemployment figures, however, believing them to be grossly misleading.

Under the current (ABS) definition, those who work for one hour in any given week are counted as employed, regardless of whether or not that work is continuous.

unemployment figures WorkChoices John Howard Kevin Rudd

O Captain! My Captain!

The Federal Education Minister Julie Bishop has had great difficulty convincing state and territory counterparts that performance-based pay will improve the standard of teacher quality across the nation.

State ministers are generally in agreement with Shadow Minister for Education Stephen Smith who called her proposal for performance-based pay "narrow and simplistic."

Smith also made reference to a new study by the Australian Council for Education Research which found that performance-based systems have not worked overseas. According to the report the schemes were vulnerable to bias and cronyism.

Teacher unions have raised similar concerns about parents and students being able to set a teacher's level of pay.

Under Labor’s plan trainee teachers will sit literacy and numeracy tests and existing teachers will have ongoing professional development training.

Bishop has threatened to withhold $3 billion in commonwealth education funding if the states refuse to accept her plan.


Education policy Julie Bishop Stephen Smith