Australia is a Federation of States. This does not just mean that each State is a different colour of the schoolroom map. Each State has its own duties to its citizens from within the overall scheme of running a country. There has always been a tension between the two levels of government and currently the management of health care … Continue reading “A consistent approach to developing public policy is required”
As the incidence of asbestos-related diseases increases, the issues associated with asbestos have evolved beyond occupational health and safety. The corporate conduct of James Hardie Industries and the prosecuting of its directors by the Australian Government had asbestos as the product around which corporate misbehaviour occurred. The prosecution has not improved the lot of the victims. The compensation fund … Continue reading “The changing asbestos campaigns”
On 14 September 2009, the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) released a series of radio advertisements that call on the government to not reduce the occupational health and safety conditions of Australian workers. An article about the ads with interviews with the major political players is available on ABC Radio for a short time. … Continue reading “Union opposition to Australia’s OHS laws – new radio campaign”
Any member of any profession can be subject to the complaints process of that profession’s governing body. A complaints procedure is an essential element of any organisation. In fact, one could argue that the professionalism and maturity of an organisation can be judged by how that organisation investigates and handles a complaint. Not only must … Continue reading “The importance of handling professional complaints professionally”
Over the last month or so, Australian politics has been scandalised by a senior Treasury official admitting to faking an email that implied political favouritism by the Australian Treasurer, Wayne Swan, and the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd. Godwin Grech is the public servant who has admitted faking the email and there are many reasons he … Continue reading “Working Hours and Political Scandal”
At the Australian Labor Party conference currently happening in Sydney, the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, announced a program to create “green” jobs or jobs from the renewable energy and environmental sectors. The program sounds a lot like the previous (Conservative) government’s Jobs for the Dole scheme – same unemployment sector different focus. Rudd’s program is … Continue reading “The safety of “green” jobs”
The Australian media has widely reported that Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, exists on three-hours sleep per night. He doesn’t and Professor Drew Dawson, a prominent Australian sleep researcher, discusses the exaggeration of high-flying professionals in an article at Crikey.com on 21 July 2009. More research of Professor Drew Dawson, Director, Centre for Sleep Research, … Continue reading “The myth of the three-hour sleep”