Criminal treatment
The Social Security Legislation Amendment Bill, to be considered by the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee in late October, will throw unemployed people off the dole for six weeks for a first offence and 13 weeks for a second offence if they fail a tightened "activity test". In the year to March 1996 there were 104,617 penalties imposed for such breaches, which include failure to report sufficient attempts to find work, attend training courses etc.
A six or thirteen week period with no income will mean thousands of unemployed people will have to either beg or steal to survive. The Welfare Rights Centre points out that a six week penalty is equivalent to a $1000 fine and 13 weeks to over $2000. These penalties are harsher by far than those imposed in the criminal justice system. In NSW in 1994-5, the average fine for pick-pocketing was $200 to $400, and for "assault occasioning bodily harm" it was $300 to $700.
Toxic leak
ADELAIDE — Residents of the inner suburbs of Edwardstown and Melrose Park have received leaflets from the local Bridgestone Tyre manufacturing plant advising them that a chemical leak has breached the company boundaries and entered the underground water system. The company has known about the leak for more than two years, but says it "didn't realise that it was beyond the plant". The Environmental Protection Authority has denied that the water is a danger to residents because it "would smell tainted" and "people won't drink it".
Queensland anti-strike laws
BRISBANE — On October 21, the Queensland government released details of a new industrial relations bill which includes: removal of "protected action" status for unions negotiating awards or multi-employer enterprise agreements; fines of up to $2000 for individuals or more than $10,000 for organisations; and allowing employers to take common law actions against unions taking industrial action.
CFMEU building division state secretary Wally Trohear said on October 22 that the proposed law was a "hate document" aimed to provoke unrest. Outlawing strikes during negotiations for awards or enterprise agreements would "whip up reactionary elements" to indulge in "anti-union activity", he said.
Democracy under threat
ADELAIDE — The state Liberal government is attempting to pass backdated legislation in state parliament to sack Adelaide City Council and replace it with a three-person unelected commission. The local Gay Times has condemned the proposed sacking, questioning whether an unaccountable set of commissioners will be as open-minded as the council in approving gay and lesbian activities.
The council has been accused of corruption, inefficiency, being unworkable and having "lost its vision". Developers have complained that building approvals take too long and are too restricted by heritage considerations. However, council elections are already favourably balanced toward business, with corporate rate payers entitled to multiple votes depending on the extent of their business interests and corporate registration.