Issue 205, 1 October 2008

Issue of the week:

Australia and the USA are the only two OECD nations not to have a paid maternity leave scheme in place, so it's no wonder the Productivity Commission's draft report has stirred debate. The proposed scheme would provide mothers with 18 weeks of parental leave at minimum wage totalling $10,000 (this can be transferred to the father provided they meet the required employment tests). Non working mothers would still receive the $5,000 baby bonus payment. An additional two weeks is available as paternity leave. Employers would also have to continue making compulsory superannuation contributions.

Most commentators have welcomed the proposal however debate and consultation will continue on how much time is enough and how it will affect the private sector and small business, particularly the extra superannuation obligations. With a link to the current furore over pension levels, this will help ensure that women's retirement savings are not jeopardised for taking time out of the workforce to have children.

The final report is due next February and it seems the Government is not prepared to commit to a scheme, including the dollars, before then.

What's to come:

October 17 will see Labor's National Executive elect a new National Secretary to replace Tim Gartrell who will leave the post to take up chief executive officer of Auspoll, a social research company with Labor links.

With no obvious successor in place, right-wing NSW Labor Secretary Karl Bitar has emerged as the frontrunner. Other possible candidates include Wayne Swan's principal political adviser, Jim Chalmers who was part of Gartrell's core team during the 2007 election campaign, Deputy National Secretary, Elias Hallaj and ALP research manager Nick Martin. The factional negotiations will now enter full swing.

Something you didn't know:

A different kind of climate change, occurring in the US financial markets, affected the Government's plans for a press conference and picture opportunity to launch Professor Ross Garnaut's final report. The scheduled 'pic fac' had to be cancelled at the last-minute to allow for the Prime Minister to continue calls to lobby the US congress and then appear with the Treasurer to reassure Australians that our strong economic position will see us ride out the storm.

Garnaut, did get to front the nation's press later in the day and get a picture opportunity with the Prime Minister in the afternoon. Never fear, however as Cambridge University Press have snapped up the rights and will publish the report later this year. Stocking-fillers anyone?

ICU:

Questions have been raised about the Australian food supply chain, following reports that many inner-city Sydney shops and supermarkets are still stocking recalled Cadbury products over 24 hours after the initial recall was released.

Lydia Buchtmann, spokesperson for Food Standards Australia and New Zealand revealed that the agency had been visiting small inner-city stores to investigate which potentially contaminated dairy products remained on their shelves. It's not surprising to learn that several shop owners had not received any industry notification of the withdrawal notice. Like the rest of us, they had been left to hear about the product recalls through the mainstream media.

A spokesperson for Cadbury stated that the withdrawal alert was passed on to major distribution companies, and it was the responsibility of these companies to pass the alert on to their clients. The failure of this system is an important lesson for the crisis planning of other food manufacturers.

Personality of the week:

Professor Ross Garnaut certainly gets around. After taking his travelling climate change road-show across the country, the release of his long-awaited Review report yesterday once again has the good professor on the front pages.

Garnaut is a Professor of Economics at ANU, a Canberra insider and shares sinophilic tendencies with our Prime Minister. He sits on multiple boards and boasts an extensive CV. In addition to his strong Asian interests and experience (he was Australia's Ambassador to China back in the mid-eighties) he brings considerable economic, resources, business and political acumen to the Climate Change Review task he was set last April. Judging by our political quote of the week, it appears he brings considerable eloquence as well.

"Oh say can you see" - US election tracker:

The US election campaign is in shadow boxing mode, while Congress attempts to pass the $700 billion bailout package. The approach to the current financial crisis from each candidate has revealed a great deal about their respective leadership styles.

McCain suspended his campaign, rolled up his sleeves and waded right into the middle of negotiations to get the deal passed. He's been let down badly by his Republican party who are not willing to accept the proposal. Many view such state intervention as ideologically poisonous, while others are appeasing the angry constituents barraging Republican offices with messages demanding irresponsible "wall street fat cats" not be given a get out of jail free card.

Obama conversely was substantially more cautious in his approach and has come out the PR winner. With his substantial lead in the critical "who is a better economic manager" polling, Obama has managed to look more Presidential than McCain in this particular battle. He has positioned himself as above politics and able to cross party divides to bring about an acceptable compromise.

Political quote of the week:

"But there's a chance, just a chance, that humanity will deal with this matter in a way that future generations judge to be satisfactory. If we fail ... the failure of our generation will haunt humanity until the end of time."

- Professor Ross Garnaut, who handed a report to the government on Climate Change this week commenting on the seriousness that needs to be taken when considering the recommendations, 30 September 2008

Media quote of the week:

"Voters who think the performance of the State Government confirms there's no talent left in the NSW Labor Party are quite wrong. The problem for them is that it's mainly in Federal Parliament, often on the back bench... It's not all bad for NSW Labor. You just have to ignore State Parliament."

-Malcolm Farr, Daily Telegraph, commenting on the current state of talent in NSW Labor, 30 Sept 2008

ICU quote of the week:

"The rise in road rage is worrying in itself, however, also concerning is the increasing number of motorists who believe this sort of retaliation is entirely acceptable."

-AAMI public affairs manager Geoff Hughes commenting on figures released yesterday by the insurance company revealing that driver aggression is at an all time high and acts of retaliation are becoming more prevalent, 30 September 2008