Menzies House

Are unions as relevant and powerful as they once were?

Chris Browne asks if unions are becoming even more irrelevant than they already are.

I stumbled across this article today detailing how some unions are outsourcing recruitment. It seems that even the union movement now can't figure out exactly what it is they are trying to sell to workers, so they outsource it to professional marketing firms instead.

Liberalism in Western Australia

The WA Division is setting the example for Liberals across the nation, writes Jeremy Sher.

The Liberal Party in Western Australia has selected Mr Ken Wyatt to stand as the Liberal candidate in the very winnable marginal seat of Hasluck.

If elected, Mr Wyatt will become the first indigenous Australian to sit in the House of Representatives.  Mr Wyatt has had a distinguished career in Aboriginal health.  Most recently, he is working as the Director of the Office of Aboriginal Health in Western Australia.  Indigenous Australians, Neville Bonner (Liberal) and Aden Ridgway (Democrat) have previously sat in the Australian Senate. 

Five fabulous arguments against “gay marriage”

Ben-Peter Terpstra argues against gay marriage.

Let’s play a game. I call it the Don’t Censor Conservatives game. In this game, hysterical adults-only libertarians quit censoring politically-incorrect views. Let’s begin.

Abbott's first wobble

Tony Abbott has shown what happens when a politician acts before thinking.

The paid maternity scheme has been hammered, again, and again and again. If there are some bright spots they are with Peter van Onselen's mixed review in The Australian and Julia Perry in the SMH.

Feedback on the site indicates that people are not happy with this policy. Tony Abbott has to learn that you cannot propose a policy that increases tax on business when you are trying to maintain your economic dominance. Abbott must remember that Conservatives have always been seen as the "natural party of government" and throwing it away for a headline or some votes is very worrying.

Paid maternity leave must be carefully laid out ensuring that the impact on business is broadly neutral - the Liberals have done themselves a lot of harm with some big donors. Tony Abbott must now reduce corporation tax to compensate business.

Sharia is not an option

Sharia law has no place in Australia, writes Senator Cory Bernardi.

A radical and dangerous change was proposed for Australia this week. A prominent Muslim leader called for parts of Islamic law (sharia) to be legally recognised in Australia.

The President of the Australian Islamic Mission, Zachariah Matthews, was speaking at what appears to be the heart of Islamic Fundamentalism in Australia, the Lakemba Mosque, last Saturday.