”The Week on Wednesday” with Van Badham & Ben Davison
News:Politics
Ben looks at the big win for farm workers this week as up to 130,000 workers will see their wages rise from as low as $3/hr to a minimum of $25.14 an hour. Despite a second record harvest year in a row and as many as 16,000 jobs needing to be filled the usual corporate agri-business lobbyists are condemning the outcome and suggesting they will appeal. The Australian Workers Union has said "If you work on a farm and aren't being paid at least $25 an hour someone is stealing your wages."
The hospitality sector is claiming it needs 100,000 temporary migrant workers to meet demand even as it claims a $44Million program from the Victorian government designed to boost demand in hospitality. The sector is rife with wage theft, super theft, rostering abuses, sexual harassment and awful working conditions. None of which the Hotels Association is suggesting they will fix before the importation of more easily exploitable temporary migrant workers.
These "labour shortage" claims come as RBA and ABC reports show that 2.2M Australians who want to work do not have the work they need. More than 200,000 people who want to work can't due to caring responsibilities and a lack of access to appropriate alternative care for their child, elders or family member with a disability.
The systemic problems are low wages, poor working conditions, lack of support to enter the workforce through the provision of care facilities and services and a quick fix mentality among many in these sectors that have become hooked on easily exploitable temporary migrant workers.
There's also info on the launch of the new children's book by the Victorian Trades Hall Council "Sticking Together", a new track by mr?e & the 4.I.S crew, an update on FriendlyJordies' effective win over Barilaro and Van's in studio appearance on Marcus Paul to talk Alan Jones, Morrison's disgrace and Qanon and On.
Episode 161: Dr Chalmers Keynesian budget remedy
Episode 160: Stopping male violence, the education budget we have to have and big batteries
Episode 159: A future made in Australia, the disinformation wonderland & solar cars
Episode 158: Tasmanian election lessons, narrative wars, its the economy and good news about airships
Weekend Wrap 3 December 2023: Employment services reforms, the grind of government and the media circus
Episode 157: Generational economic divide, Loopholes closer to closing & good news on renewables
Weekend Wrap 19 November 2023: Profiteers cash in, school funding needs fix and why Albo went to APEC
Episode 156: Wages rise, Duttons dangerous disinformation, why school funding is a targeted use of the surplus and good news for stone workers
Episode 155: Optus outage chaos, new RBA is just like the old RBA and good news from America
Episode 154: Corporates fight to keep loopholes, Be that teacher for every child, Medicare boost and good news about spiders
Weekend Wrap 29 October 2023: Albo goes to Washington, Insiders misses context and the rules based order
Episode 153: Unions ban deadly dust, Profits fuel inflation pain, World Teachers Day and good battery news
Weekend Wrap 22 October 2023: Middle East, Fee free TAFE, Worker actions, Parental leave, state tax bonfire
Weekend Wrap 15 October 2023: Voice referendum lost, misinformation campaigning and workplace reforms
Episode 152: Republicans implode, referendum prepoll opens, rates on hold and good news about bears
Weekend Wrap 1 October 2023:the No misinformation campaign, disability royal commission report, Pezzullo and public service
Episode 151: Dan departs as Allan ascends, a job for everyone who wants one, a referendum update and good news about kites
Weekend Wrap 24 September 2023: No rallies, price gouging inquiry, workers take action
Episode 150: Referendum disinformation, NSW budget, Victorian homes, worker rights and good news on seaweed
Weekend Wrap 10 September: Pearson makes YES case on Insiders, Dutton delays billions in wages, unions win for workers
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