”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 128 Inflation slows, workers call for wages and just transition, Aston byelection, Liberal MPs injure worker and good news about Skinks!
Weekend Wrap 26 March 2023: Minns Labor wins NSW, media fails with call of tight election, Voice question and putting workers in the centre of debate
Episode 127: NSW Election, TERFs and Nazis, Voice a step closer and good news about baking soda!
Episode 126: SPECIAL GUEST Minister Aboriginal Affairs and Attorney General Kyam Maher on the Voice, Dutton sets up AUKUS vs NDIS fight, Perrottet’s voucher program
Weekend Wrap 12 March 2023: Insiders talks nonsense, two weeks until nswvotes, three weeks until Aston byelection and RBA has stuffed the economy
Episode 125: International Women’s Day, Musk tells people to get off Twitter, The RBA puts bosses before reality and good news about oceans!
Weekend Wrap5 March 2023: Angus Taylor exposed on Insiders, Stuart Robert fronts robodebt royal commission, media a barrier to reform, NSW Labor and May Doyle launch
Episode 124: Super tax reforms, Greedflation, the end of killer kitchen tops and good news about cute animals
Weekend Wrap 26 February 2023: Super reforms to save billions, Insiders and the phantom arguments, the greed price spiral, YES launches and Tsarina Thorpe crashes Mardi Gras
Episode 123: Not so perfect broccolini, Murdoch boycotts Fringe, YES to the Voice, Albo’s 2023 agenda and good news about batteries!
Weekend Wrap 19 February 2023: Insiders press Greens on climate blockage, Labor passes signature policies, Voice campaign launches and NSW election heating up
Episode 122: Reserve bank puts profits before people, information wars exposed, good news about grass and we are COMING TO ADELAIDE!
Weekend Wrap 12 February 2023: Insiders stays in neoliberal frame, Tudge quits in disgrace, bosses attacking workers
Episode 121: Thorpe leaves Greens in lurch, Dark Brandon rises and good news about the sea!
Weekend Wrap 5 February 2023: Insider’s returns to discuss The Voice, The Chifley Research Centre conference platforms new ideas and 1 in 10 cancers are work related
Episode 120: Cultural policy at last! Visy, Woodside and Mantle workers facing down corporate greed plus the robodebt royal commission
Weekend Wrap 29 January 2023: Alice Springs, a complex story needing complex solutions, West Australian opposition shuffles deck chairs and stranded ship crews
Episode 119: Whether Australia Day or Invasion Day January 26th needs to change, will the RBA cause a recession? Good news from the Mersey river!
Weekend Wrap 22 January 2023: Labor leads in NSW, The Voice winning across the nation, Ardern retires and Qantas has been Joyced!
Episode 118: Dutton playing politics with The Voice, Stoves new culture war front, is it time to end the free ride? And good news on plastics!
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