Such treatment by the media is standard practice, of course. Even so, given that the report has had some reportage in the written press and one or two favourable mentions by Workplace Relations Minister, Peter Reith, it is a little surprising that I have not been interviewed at all on radio since its release and that none of the major economic writers has even mentioned it. However, the Financial Review did publish an article by me on the US labour market and that will be followed shortly by a more analytical piece in the March edition of the Australian Bulletin of Labour. I have also been invited to address two conferences on the issue in the near future. Further, although I have not yet had time to do anything about it, in response to the December newsletter one subscriber has offered to help with the production of a video highlighting some of the ridiculous aspects of labour market regulation.
Mere help is needed.
That section is attached and if any subscriber is interested I can let them have the complete letter. All this is grist to the mill. Moreover, the increasingly aggressive position being taken by the Senate will make it very difficult to achieve the necessary reforms without changes to the way the Senate is elected. It is noteworthy that Reith raised this matter in his letter to the Prime Minister. My continued pursuit of police policy regarding trade unions and picketing may have contributed to the Victorian Chief Commissioner's decision to tell the Police Association in December last that in future the 'Force' will not meet the cost of attendance at Association meetings and that it is 'unlikely' that secondments of police to the Association to perform executive duties will be approved.