Most people are disgusted with the current political system. The federal election approaches amidst unprecedented public disenchantment with the political system and for good reason. The average unemployment rate has been climbing since the early 1970s. Since then all governments, Coalition or Labor, and big businesses have been on a path of job destruction. In just its first two years in office, the Howard government destroyed 40,000 federal public service jobs and big business, in particular the big banks, destroyed thousands more.
State governments continue to axe more public sector jobs.
Those of us fortunate to have jobs have to work harder and longer for less pay, have less security and are being forced to accept poorer working conditions. This is a direct result of the policies pursued by the major parties. The ALP brought in enterprise bargaining and legalised individual employment contracts and the Coalition extended this attack on workers' rights with the Workplace Relations Act . While John Howard promises to deliver security, his government's conspiracy with Patricks Stevedores and the National Farmers Federation against the maritime workers demonstrated that his government is intent on destroying what's left of the security of working people. The privatisation rip-off continues as the most profitable public enterprises are being sold off at bargain prices and thousands of jobs are destroyed.