"The Week on Wednesday" with Van Badham & Ben Davison

Weekend Wrap 21 August 2022 Barnaby admits ignoring Morrison power grab to keep perks, gig economy ruling needs overturning and Morrison’s grants scam

Ben Davison dives into the Morrison Modern Manufacturing Initiative Scheme that saw $828M handed out, including in five announcements during the election.

Insiders had former Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce on for a car crash interview where between calling for modular nuclear power plants in every town he admitted he didn't confront or make public Morrison's secret portfolios because he had been given ministries the Nationals weren't entitled to, staff they weren't entitled to and was concerned they'd be taken away!

Plus the end of the week saw the devastating application of a high court decision to prioritise contract terms over reality as a delivery worker lost his Fair Work Commission case.  Ben explains why this is terrible outcome for all workers, what it means now for the gig economy and what we can do to fix it. (It starts with joining your union australianunions.org.au/wow)

And Ben give a preview of a special upcoming edition of the Week on Wednesday with Van Badham. 

Episode 101: Morrison’s shadow government, unions launch skills and migration plan, wages cut as profits soar

Van Badham and Ben Davison try to unpack the Morrison secret shadow government as the full extent of his additional portfolios is exposed.

While Morrison flatly denies any wrong doing most of the country thinks he should resign from parliament and that he has undermined democratic processes.

Van and Ben breakdown what happened, why it is a problem and what might happen next.  

While the legacy of Morrison's Napoleonic power grab continues to be record cuts to wages and record increases in profits the union movement has put forward its 2nd pre jobs summit discussion paper on skills and migration.

Van and Ben explain why the ACTU call for structural reforms to be put in place before more migrants are exposed to exploitative practices is the right call.  

To ensure better wages and conditions for you and all workers join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow.

The good news this week is about hydrogen in Australia.

And as well as giving shout outs to our Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday Van and Ben give shout outs to the listeners who have listened to all 100 episodes so far!

Weekend Wrap 14 August 2022: Bowen’s masterclass on Insiders, Morrison’s COVID power grab and real economic reforms

Ben Davison reviews how Insiders failed to discuss one of the biggest political stories of the week; Scott Morrison SECRETLY making himself health and finance minister during the early stages of the COVID pandemic.  Ben breaks down why Morrison might have done it, asks who knew and would Peter Dutton do the same if he gets the chance?

Chris Bowen gave a masterclass interview on Insiders where he outlined the complexity of the electricity market while providing assurance that real reforms are underway.  Ben discusses how the interview also showed up the Insider panel's anti-union biases as the kinds of reforms Bowen discussed aligned with the ACTU jobs summit paper "An Economy that works for People" which they roundly dismissed.

Despite the Insiders panel having concerns about tax cuts legislated before COVID that will give bank CEO's $5,000 tax cuts on top of their 35% pay increases, despite their concerns about a lack of teachers, a lack of investment in local manufacturing, a lack of reliable supply chains, the panel dismissed the ACTU paper. 

The paper which speaks to all those issues.

Ben breaks down how unions across many sectors are taking actions while also being the only stakeholders to offer up ideas for discussion at the summit and why workers should join australianunions.org.au/wow because clearly the media are not even reading the materials.

And Ben condemns the cookers who protested outside the Children's hospital in Melbourne over the weekend.  The puppets of American right wing propagandists are causing distress to sick children and their families.  Ben and Van will discuss how these latest actions are being fed by Trump's desperate situation on Wednesday's episode.

 

Episode 100: Jobs summit clash, Trump raided and good news about the Great Barrier Reef

Van Badham and Ben Davison breakdown why Peter Dutton has refused the invitation to attend the Jobs and Skills Summit at the same time his junior coalition partner and own shadow Treasurer are demanding an invitation.  While the Liberals seem determined to call everything a "stunt" Labor's ministers are consulting with stakeholders from business and the union movement on how to get the economy going again.

Australian Unions have today put out a paper calling for economic reforms that would reduce inequality, support wages growth and enshrine Full Employment as a key economic goal.  To be part of your union join at australianunions.org.au/wow

Van and Ben discuss how and why the current economic debate is between a broad base of stakeholders trying for consensus on reforms and Peter Dutton trying to bash unions.

Trump's Mar-a-Lago palace was raided by the FBI this week and Van gives a rapid deep dive on why the raid happened, what it might mean for American democracy and how the neo-fascists who support Trump have responded.

The good news is about the Great Barrier Reef expanding.

And for our 100th episode we give shoutouts to our Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters (you can join them at www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday) and announce a LIVE show!

Weekend Wrap 7th August 2022: Climate progress as Dutton moves to culture war mode and a look at Uberisation in the NDIS

Ben Davison gives a wrap up of the "end of the climate wars" (its not really), the culture war being built to oppose the Voice, Dutton's union bashing and his nuclear folly. 

Don't forget to join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow (you know Dutton will hate it)

With Paul Karp's Guardian piece exposing the "Pay to get paid" Uber platforms in the NDIS Ben discusses how Uber style "contracting" is undermining the assumptions of employment in the NDIS, the profiteering that is happening at tax payer and participant expense and how some Uber-style platforms have traded shares to the Murdoch empire for media coverage.  Just like Uber did in Europe.

Episode 99: Broken economics, climate change targets, Liberals at it again and good news on plastic

Van Badham and Ben Davison give a quick update on the goings on at parliament (Aged care reforms, workers in the halls, cultural policy, a review of defence and attempts to claw back the "Workforce Australia" program) before jumping into how the economic establishment has gotten things so very wrong during the cost of living & inflation crisis.

With inflation climbing and interest rates rising but wages going backwards and profits at record levels Van and Ben discuss how the fever dream of a long dead right wing economist has become the economic gospel with which we are being beaten around the head.

BUT workers are taking a stand to win better pay and conditions at the same time the Labor government is strengthening the social infrastructure that will help workers win pay rises.  Australian union members are taking action at NSW rail and Launceston hospital (among many places) while even more refuse pay cuts from big banks and Qantas. Van sets listeners a challenge to join your union before the end of the episode at australianunions.org.au/wow

Among the many political stories the legislation to enshrine a 43% emissions reduction floor into law is a big focus.  The Greens have finally announced they will support Labor's Repowering Australia approach while Dutton takes his Coalition off to explore nuclear power....again.

The Queensland based leader of the Coalition, Dutton, must be almost thankful for his lack of relevance because at least it means that he, unlike his NSW and Victorian Liberal leaders, isn't currently being investigated for a scandal.  Dom Perrottet lost a minister earlier in the week and lost his deputy leader today while Matthew Guy lost his chief of staff and gained, at least, a Victorian Electoral Commission investigation!

The good environment news is about removing plastics from the ocean and a process that is being refined to the point where it MIGHT happen in our lifetime.

Plus we give a huge shout out to all our supporters from www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday who contribute to making the podcast happen and getting it into the ears of people around the nation.

Weekend Wrap 31st July 2022: Albo announces Voice question, grim economic outlook inspires rapid Labor agenda and rebalancing workplace power

Ben Davison looks at Prime Minister Albanese's Insiders interview from Garma where he outlined his plan for the constitutional referendum and the enshrinement of the indigenous Voice to parliament.

How the Voice comes into being will depend on winning the referendum and Ben analyses the approach Albo is taking to make sure he wins the debate.

The 1st week of the 47th parliament saw a flurry of legislation.  Ben examines why aged care reforms, emission reduction targets scrapping the cashless debit card and childcare are both good social policy but will also improve productivity and lift participation.

The state of Australia's economy is a shambles after a decade of coalition mismanagement that has seen record corporate profits, record wage cuts, misuse of government funds and huge skills gaps.  Dutton's response?  To attack unions, attack workers, dismiss government policy and reject the invitation to Garma.

Along with the policies before the parliament Ben discusses why the Jobs and Skills summit must rebalance the power in our economy to lift wages before 2024. 

Episode 98: The challenges facing Albo’s parliament, half of Australia has COVID, Morrison AWOL, Bison are BACK!

Van Badham and Ben Davison take a look at why Anthony Albanese's government faces some significant challenges as the new parliament sits for the first time.

Van and Ben discuss the emotional opening of parliament and why Labor's time in government, particularly under the current circumstances, is so important.

With neo-liberal economic ideologues dominating the institutions of our economy the Labor government's drive for more secure work, better wages, paid family and domestic violence leave, the establishment of Skills Australia and a 43% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 and net zero by 2050 will rely on the Skills and Jobs summit to rebalance power towards working people.

Union member's continue to get better wages, win better conditions and have more secure employment so join at australianunions.org.au/wow

COVID has now infected almost half of all Australian's as more people than ever are in hospital.  Van and Ben talk about the personal impact and why we should all be following the advice of the nurse's union.

Morrison hasn't rocked up to work but continues to conduct his speaking tour.  Van reports live from the seat of Cook, where no one has seen their MP except on TV....

The good news is that the European Bison is BACK in the UK!

And we give shout outs to our awesome www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday supporters and drop the date for the next Cadre supporter video!

Weekend Wrap 24th July 2022: Tony Burke talks workplace reforms on Insiders, Climate change targets, Liberal scaremongering & it pays to be union

Ben Davison examines Tony Burke's Insider's interview where he announced the end of the ABCC misusing taxpayer funds to persecute workers over union stickers, logos and flags. Minister Burke also discussed how some corporations are using "loopholes" to lower wages as an Age/SMH piece finds workers in union agreements are winning higher pay rises than non-union workers.

Join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow

Tony Burke is promising minimum standards for all workers, the end of "illegitimate" labour hire uses and to build a ramp for gig workers to move to more secure employment.  Ben reminds us that the ramp will still need safeguards to stop bad bosses from pushing secure jobs down rather than help bring workers up.

Katherine Murphy lets rip on a decade of the Coalition choosing to be "on the wrong side of history" over climate change as cracks appear in the Dutton opposition ahead of the 43% emission reduction target coming to the parliament.

Mark Kenny tells us Karen Andrews "should consider her position" as it is revealed she politicised the arrival of an asylum seeker boat on election day and pressured the department at the behest of Scott Morrison.

Phil Coorey accuses workers of "sneaking around" parliament ahead of the first sitting week where family and domestic violence leave, the establishment of Skills Australia and the emissions reduction target legislation is due to be introduced.

Plus a reminder of what the nurses of Australia want us to do to stay safe and keep our loved ones safe from COVID.

Episode 97: Barilaro busted, Corporations driving up inflation, Labor commits to 30:30 by 2030 to fix environment & COVID update

Van Badham and Ben Davison look at how John Barliaro has come totally unstuck as his former chief of staff testifies that the former NSW Nationals Deputy Premier created the New York trade position with every intention of taking the job himself.

Tanya Plibersek has released the previous Morrison government's environment report which has some damming facts and figures about the state of Australia's environment.  Van and Ben discuss the Labor promise to establish an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and their commitment to protecting 30% of our land and water by 2030.

New research has confirmed what we, unions and economists have been saying; Corporate greed and profiteering, not wages, is driving up inflation.  Ben and Van look at the villains who run Qantas, Merrivale, and CSL to discuss how greed, contempt for workers and hypocritical behaviour needs to be removed from corporate Australia.

A listener who works for CSL, and joined their union after listening to the podcast, wrote to us and we share their story of being given a real pay cut by a CEO being paid nearly $60M that receives billions in taxpayer funding.

Plus COVID is getting worse.  Hospitalisations are up, deaths are up and the union movement is calling for employers to provide RATS, work from home where they can, masks and paid leave to isolate as more and more health care workers are getting sick.  You can join your union for a safer workplace, for a better pay deal or just to be part of a community of working people at australianunions.org.au/wow

Also we give our regular shoutout to Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters who've gone to www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday to make regular contributions towards helping us grow the Week on Wednesday audience.