Parties to be marked for federal election

By Angelo Gavrielatos

When the federal election is called Federation will widely publicise an analysis of the policies the Coalition, ALP, the Greens, Democrats and prominent independents.

Their policy statements will be measured against Federation's campaign objectives which seek:

1. a priority commitment to public education;
2. a redistribution of funds from private schools to public schools;
3. a significant increase in funding to public schools and growth funding in TAFE commensurate with unmet demand;
4. a commitment to significantly enhance public education funding in the equity areas of special needs, low SES and Indigenous education;
5. the defeat of the "Learning Together Achievement Through Choice and Opportunity Bill" (formerly the States Grants Act) replacing it with a funding policy underpinned by the principle that the first and foremost responsibility of governments is the funding of a public education system of the highest quality and which breaks the funding nexus between private and public schools; and
6. the development of a planning mechanism, such as the New Schools Policy, to assess the impact of any proposed private school on existing public schools prior to consideration of approval for its establishment.

Federation will also provide an analysis of industrial relations policies and commentary on social policies released in the lead up to the federal election.

With respect to industrial relations, Federation will judge the extent to which parties endorse a fair industrial relations policy recognising the right of workers to organise and bargaining collectively. The Howard Government's determination to undermine the right of workers to organise and its persistence with "unfair dismissal" legislation which would make it easier for employers to sack people reinforces the fact that the Howard Government works for the unfettered rights of employers over workers. Their ideological obsession aimed at attacking unions is best illustrated by their role in the MUA dispute and the politically motivated farce, the Royal Commission into the building industry.

Angelo Gavrielatos is the Senior Vice President.

Inquiry looks at federal funding

The federal funding policy situation so far

For further information

August 2004 contents