But the real threat comes from what Abbott's policy doesn't say. It is a deliberately vague political document, designed to deflect attention from WorkChoices while giving maximum room to move after the election. As ACTU president Ged Kearney colourfully analogised:
"Mr Squiggle would begin with a few pen strokes on a blackboard, just as Mr Abbott did yesterday, and before you know it there would be a rocket or a bicycle and Mr Squiggle would have drawn it upside down so you would not even recognise what it was until he turned it the right-side up. That is what we have with the Coalition's 38-page, detail-shy document; the outline of a policy that will only become fully clear in time and probably when it is too late."a Professor Andrew Stewart says Abbott's policy is a "ticking time bomb" that "set[s] up the possibility of major changes".b
In fact, the whole Fair Work Act is up for negotiation, with the economic rationalists at the Productivity Commission to be given carte blanche to draft their fantasy IR system—and its last public statement on the issue was that the problem with WorkChoices was that it was not "adequately explained nor understood by the public".c If only the public saw the world through the eyes of the PC econocrats, they would learn to love their new life without penalty rates or job security. And just to be safe, the business lobby is being urged to draft the rules for the Productivity Review, and Abbott to consider "the appointment of more than one commissioner" to ensure "the right people" run the review—stacking the umpire again.d
Abbott says he would "seek a mandate" before implementing the new Productivity Commission version of WorkChoices, but you only have to look at conservative States to see what these promises are worth. Ted Baillieu promised that Victorian teachers would be "the best paid in Australia", before ditching the pledge immediately after the election.e Campbell Newman promised that he would not cut public service jobs beyond "natural attrition",f and he promised "no future privatisation of public assets unless a mandate had been sought at an election".g After the election, though, he commissioned a dodgy audit and used it to justify sacking 14,000 people,h,i the sale of public assets like government buildings,j and the closure and sale of public schools (transferring capital funding to the private sector)k,l Abbott endorsed Newman's broken promises, saying "unfortunately tough decisions just have to be made".m And of course WorkChoices was introduced without going to an election.
The pressure is on—the Business Council is already telling Abbott that "employers did not have time to wait" for further change;n Liberal Party powerbrokers are urging business to "start campaigning in October for substantial changes if Mr Abbott wins the September 14 election"o—yes, they want to wait until after the election before making their demands. Meanwhile, Liberal MPs are already repudiating official policy, saying there is "room to maneouvre after the election".p,q This is an orchestrated strategy that has been used in the Coalition States. There's no reason to think Abbott won't fall in line when business unleashes its campaign to restore WorkChoices.
a. Ged Kearney, Abbott's real motives on IR in the dearth of detail, Sydney Morning Herald, 10 May 2013 ↵
b. Stewart questions Coalition's plan for FWC independent appeal jurisdiction, Workplace Express, 10 May 2013 ↵
c. Geoff Winestock, Banks slams failures on productivity, Australian Financial Review, 1 November 2012 ↵
d. Reith urges business to write PC inquiry reference, questions new head's enthusiasm for IR change, Workplace Express, 16 May 2013 ↵
e. Victorian premier Ted Baillieu quiet on teachers' pay rise, The Australian/AAP, 7 December 2010 ↵
f. A public service to serve Queensland, Media Release, Liberal National Party, 22 March 2012 ↵
g. No privatisation of public assets without a mandate, Media Release, Liberal National Party, 22 February 2012 ↵
h. List: Job cuts by portfolio, Brisbane Times, 11 September 2012 ↵
i. Queenslanders speak out about LNP job cuts, ABC News, 17 September 2012 ↵
j. Opposition slams sell-off of Brisbane CBD buildings, Sunshine Coast Daily, 19 April 2013 ↵
k. Tanya Chilcott & Sarah Vogler, Campbell Newman accused of attack on state schools with capital funding boost for Independent and Catholic sectors, Courier Mail, 6 March 2012 ↵
l. Alison Sandy & Tanya Chilcott, Queensland Government scheme to close 'unviable' schools could see sell-off completed in less than a year, Courier Mail, 29 April 2013 ↵
m. Kelmeny Fraser, Opposition leader Tony Abbott defends Queensland Premier Campbell Newman's tough decisions on Budget, The Sunday Mail, 22 September 2012 ↵
n. Michael Smith, Employers: IR reform now, not later, Australian Financial Review, 13 May 2013 ↵
o. Abbott faces criticism over IR policy, Nine News, 10 May 2013 ↵
p. Ewin Hannan, Peter Reith to Liberals: go harder on IR, The Australian, 16 May 2013 ↵
q. Jonathon Swan, Liberal MPs want rethink on Coalition's climate change plan, Sydney Morning Herald, 10 May 2013 ↵