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

Weekend Wrap 17 June 2022: Albo listens to workers on paid pandemic leave, Bandt threatens to vote with Dutton on Insiders & Van and Ben get MARRIED!

Van Badham joins Ben Davison for a very special weekend wrap.  Our hosts got married yesterday!  In a small family ceremony at the beach where Van's father's ashes were put into Botany Bay, Van and Ben have tied the knot.

But the news waits for no one. Albo's decision to reinstate paid pandemic leave payments for worker's who have to isolate shows the power of working people raising their voice together and the willingness of a Labor government to listen to workers.  The union movement (which you can join at australianunions.org.au/wow) worked hard to make sure the full social, economic and health impacts of forcing people into an economic choice around COVID were understood by the federal and state governments. As COVID continues it will be more important than ever that worker's voices are heard.

On Insiders this morning Adam Bandt managed to reignite the mistakes of the climate wars by threatening to vote with the Dutton Liberals to block a legislated 43% reduction in emissions because it wasn't "ambitious" enough. Or if it didn't have a mechanism to stop ALL future coal and gas projects.  Or possibly because he wants the campaign issue.  Van and Ben breakdown why this is bad policy development and self indulgent politics.

Plus the happy couple take a look at why Van's mum's local MP, Scott Morrison, is delivering a sermon on the other side of the country at the church of well known anti-equality activist Margaret Court.

Episode 96: Making the job summit work for workers, Bosses bumper bonuses, COVID update and good news about sand

Van Badham and Ben Davison look at the Albanese Government's announcement of a jobs and skills summit, who might be going, who thinks they are going, what it is supposed to achieve and why the Liberal Party is totally confused about what is happening.

Australian Unions are positioning to have the summit fix our broken workplace laws, improve wages, job security, working conditions for women and access for all.  To be part of the movement, like Steve (listen and you'll understand), go to australianunions.org.au/wow

Ben and Van examine a couple of case studies of how broken the workplace laws are when business can be crying out for more workers yet companies are cancelling staff agreements and cutting wages. The workers at Tuftmaster are being threatened with the loss of job security and a cancelled agreement while Ben spoke with MUA Sydney Deputy Branch Secretary Paul Garrett about the attempts by massive multinational Maersk to almost HALVE the wages of tug boat crews in Australia through their subsidiary company Svitzer by cancelling their agreement. 

All of this is happening against a backdrop of record profits, record CEO pay and increasing productivity but declining wages.

Van and Ben discuss some of the egregious cases like Qantas, Afterpay and CSL where government funding, subsidies, unlawful conduct or total lack of profitability hasn't stopped the executives from taking MASSIVE pay days.

COVID is getting worse.  Van and Ben run through some figures but also their own experience of COVID and why wearing masks, supporting people having to isolate and getting vaccinated is so important.

The good news is sand powered batteries in Finland!

We also congratulate our Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters who have helped us get to more than 500,000 downloads! You can become a supporter at www.buymeacoffee.com/WeekonWednesday  

Weekend Wrap 10th July 2022: Bye Boris, Sri Lankan upheaval, Abe assassination and media fails, NSW attacks workers, COVID update

In 20 minutes Ben looks at the resignation of Boris Johnson, who remains Prime Minister but is no longer the leader of the Tory party, the political upheaval in Sri Lanka as the President and Prime Minister resign following the citizens taking over the Presidential palace and the assassination of former Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe by a suspected conspiracy theorist. 

Ben has a particular focus on the failures of Australian media in recent coverage of events that could have or may yet cause harm, with Bevan Shields from the SMH and former minister Karen Andrews being called out.

The NSW Liberal government has lost its bid to stop rail workers taking action to improve rail network safety and Ben takes a look at how this action and the attempts to cancel staff agreements at Tuftmasters and Svitzer are evidence our workplace laws need to change.  Unions are organising workers in these sectors (and every sector) so you should join today at australianunions.org.au/wow to keep your workplace safe, connect with your community and improve your pay and conditions.

The union movement calls for an extension to the COVID disaster payment have gone unheeded despite increases in cases, hospitalisations and Ministers in Queensland and across the country calling for people to wear masks.  Ben breaks down some of the latest issues with COVID here in Australia.

Episode 95: Albo visits floods, industrial action in New South Wales, COVID getting worse and good news about maritime parks

Van Badham and Ben Davison break down how the Liberal Party and their right wing media allies have attacked Albo doing his job promoting Australia's interests in Europe while they simultaneously forgot that Dutton is literally on holiday.

Even NSW Liberal state Premier Dominic Perrottet has defended Albo saying the state and federal government had been working well on dealing with the current flooding disaster. 

Van and Ben look at what is happening with the floods from a political perspective and the immediate relief being delivered.

While Dom Perrottet may be doing better with this round of flooding he continues to fail the workers of NSW.  Today's rail worker actions come on the back of weeks of industrial action from health workers, teachers and public transport workers. 

Van and Ben look at how the Liberal ideological framework of underinvestment, cuts and punishing workers is driving disruption, undermining wages & safety and wasting both public money and people's time.  To stop the actions Dom Perrottet is threatening unions in NSW with HUGE fines and there is a public fund people can contribute to via Unions NSW.

COVID never left and it is getting worse.  Van and Ben discuss their own recent COVID experiences and why they are supporting the Australian Unions push to keep COVID isolation supports, more people wearing masks and getting boosters.  Union workplaces are safer workplaces and you can join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow

The good news this week comes from the United States (believe it or not) and is about efforts to preserve more maritime parks.

As always we acknowledge our contributors who've signed up to make regular Cadre and Extend the Reach contributions on our www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday page and Van is excited about us approaching a MASSIVE new milestone.

Weekend Wrap 3rd July 2022: Albo rebuilds Australia’s reputation, Per Capita shines a light on NDIS, grim COVID milestone

Van Badham joins Ben Davison for a special Weekend Wrap to discuss the rapid rebuilding of Australia's international reputation, the latest Per Capita report on systemic risks of contracting in the NDIS and Australia suffering our 10,000th COVID death.

Albo and the Labor government have rapidly rebuilt Australia's international reputation with allies in Europe and pacific embracing the new government.  The results are tangible with new trade, regional security and bi-lateral relations that had been off the table under the Liberals all restarting.

Per Capita released a report that shines a light on the problems of contracting in the NDIS this week.  Van and Ben look at the real impacts of sham contracting on workers, people with disabilities and the NDIS as a system.  From worker's being ripped off with "bridging loans" to clients being held legally responsible for workplace safety to foreign private equity taking taxpayer money and operating "unregistered" the growth of "contracting" in the NDIS is creating a range of problems.  Links to the report will be shared on our supporter page www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday

More than 10,000 Australian's have died of COVID since the start of the pandemic.  The rate of deaths has climbed rapidly with the first 1,000 deaths coming between March 2020 and August 2021 but the latest 5,000 happening between February 2022 and July 2022.  Australian Unions are arguing we need to continue support for people to isolate and many are calling for masks to be made compulsory again.  Van and Ben share their recent experience of having COVID and of the total lack of masks during a recent shopping trip.  With COVID increasingly a workplace by workplace issue its more important than ever to join your union at australiaunions.org.au/wow

Episode 94: The boomer fantasy of wage spirals, the failed states of America and good news about Queensland coal

Van Badham and Ben Davison emerge from their COVID isolation to breakdown the real story behind the wages debate in Australia.

The reality doesn't match the ideological chest beating from the business lobby who were quick to claim a Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) mandate for a wages cap (their isn't one) to stop a "wages spiral" and that Sally McManus, leader of Australian Unions, had called the RBA governor a "boomer". (She didn't).  

Van and Ben look at the ways collective bargaining is failing, how it can/could work to lift wages, some innovations like the TWU/Uber agreement and why more and more workers are banding together to take action across whole sectors (like the teacher unions in New South Wales). 

Across the board union members are earning more, so join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow

Of course Liberal Leader Peter Dutton was quick to jump on the "wage spiral" rhetoric along with his anti-teacher culture war so Van and Ben look at why Liberal's in Australia might be using American style tactics.

This episode takes an extended look into the US Supreme Court, the fundamentalists that Trump appointed to the court, the activism they are now displaying in overturning Roe V Wade, removing gun control laws, imposing religion in schools and directing federal funds to religious organisations.

With the January 6 Commission hearings in full swing Van gives a clear eyed analysis of Trump, and his enablers, lack of commitment to democracy, dedication to culture wars and power at all costs approach.

The good news is that Queensland is imposing a form of progressive taxation on coal companies!

And as always we acknowledge the Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters who make it possible for us to reach even more people at www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday

Episode 93: Morrison’s march through the institutions uncovered, we have COVID and Albo signs up for ambitious action on climate change

Van Badham and Ben Davison have COVID!  But that doesn't stop them from examining how a decade of Liberal/National government gave Morrison the chance to stack out various Australian institutions, ranging from the ABC to the Reserve Bank.

While many appointments across government may have been on merit the uniform ideological background of people on the Reserve Bank Board have many people questioning the recent demands by the Governor of the RBA for workers to wear more pay cuts and suggesting a return to the board of a strong worker voice. 

Just as Fraser, Hawke and Keating appointed the head of the Australian Union movement to the board of the Reserve Bank many are now calling for Sally McManus, or at least someone with a labour market understanding, to be appointed.  If you think worker's should wear the costs of higher profits but should get decent pay rises and want one for yourself join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow

Van gives a background on where "long march through the institutions" comes from and Ben gives a rant about "If I was reserve bank governor."  Did we mention they both have COVID?

COVID hasn't gone away.  Van and Ben have it and discuss how, after a lull, the numbers of infections, hospitalisations and deaths are again rising.  Wear a mask, get vaccinated, stay safe.

The good news is that the Albanese Labor Government has signed up to a 43% reduction in emissions by 2030.  In a move that brought together stakeholders from across the environment, labour and business sectors Labor has set out an achievable ambition for real climate action.

It might be a shorter episode but we'd never forget to acknowledge our Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters who Van reads out by name every episode.

Weekend Wrap 19th June with Van Badham! Albo’s agenda, Dutton on Insiders, early childhood reforms

Van Badham joins Ben Davison for the Weekend Wrap and a look under the hood at the Victorian and New South Wales early childhood education announcements this week.  While it was a joint announcement the details highlight the public sector vs private sector approaches of the respective Labor and Liberal governments.  NSW has also announced "reforms" in education which are based on policies that have consistently proven a failure elsewhere.  

Albo has outlined the first three items for parliament, along with a framework for the rest of 2022.  Van and Ben discuss how these priorities, emissions reduction, women's safety and socio-economic participation, employment and skills, workplace reforms that grow wages, improve collective bargaining and job security line up with Albo's embrace of the Hawke consultative approach to government.  

Plus Ben reviews Dutton on Insiders, discusses how badly the Morrison era managed the economy in creating the inflation problems we now have and Dutton's attempt to avoid any responsibility while weaponising claims about child abuse, that his own government couldn't find evidence to support, to divert from the indigenous Voice to parliament.

Episode 92: Workers win pay rises, how Labor won government, coal fails during snap and good news about energy transitions in WA

Van Badham and Ben Davison celebrate Minimum Wage day as 2.7 Million low paid workers in Australia are set to receive at least a 4.6% and up to 5.2% increase in wages.  We look at who will get what and when.

As well as the dollars and cents, Van and Ben break down the economic and socio-political realities of the minimum wage decision, what we need to do to help lift the wages of the other 75% of workers in Australia not on minimum awards (it starts by joining your union australianunions.org.au/wow) and how an Albanese Labor government faced down the business lobby fear campaign to deliver better wages.  

The leader of Australian Unions, Sally McManus, has called for systemic changes saying, "the current system is failing. It is unable to deliver wage increases despite low unemployment, high productivity and high profits." Perhaps unintentionally parts of the business lobby have supported the call for reforms and demanded "more effective enterprise bargaining".

Van and Ben also look at the national press club address by ALP National Secretary Paul Erickson and discuss how Labor won the 2022 election and the political reality of Australia being a "Two party, Labor Party and non-Labor parties, system".

As Australia shivers in a cold snap energy producers have shut down 25% of the energy generation and Van and Ben discuss how coal and privatisation are failing our nation.

But the good news is that in Western Australia climate action means huge investments in renewables, new jobs and the closure of coal plants by 2030!

Plus Van reads out the names of our Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters from our supporter page www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday 

Weekend Wrap 12 June 2022: Shorten on Insiders talks NDIS fixes, Qantas, Merivale and toxic corporate cultures

Ben Davison looks at Bill Shorten's Insider's interview and his push to fix the NDIS.  With 90% of NDIS providers now unregistered, organised crime infiltrated into the system & foreign private equity extracting profits Shorten has promised that if "you are delivering personal care you have to be registered" that people will be "paid the proper award" and we to "make sure people are qualified".

While every dollar invested in the NDIS returns $2.25 the lack of quality control, auditing and minimum levels of training in the unregistered sector is undermining those outcomes.

Ben discusses the issues around choice and control in the broader context of how consumers exercise choice and control in other parts of the economy and how the Liberal's twisted the concept to fit a neo-Liberal version of "free market" that has seen an explosion in overcharging, digital sham contracting, the entry of organised crime and genuine safety concerns.

The issues with the NDIS mirror a broader toxic culture among parts of Australia's business community.

Ben dives into why Mabel (disability & aged care), Merivale(hospitality & entertainment) and Qantas stand out in their sectors as examples of profit before all else.

Using a variety of unlawful conduct, wage theft, government subsidies, Liberal Party connections, publicity puff pieces, market domination, customer capture and "leadership" baubles the executives of these companies have profited at the expense of working people in Australia. 

And they are totally unapologetic.

Ben looks at why people like Alan Joyce and Justin Hemmes aren't role models on leadership but are examples of profiteering, a broken economic system and corporate cultural failures.