”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.
Weekend Wrap 2 October 2022: NACC will either be reform or knackered, Truss shows tax cut follies, COVID isolation to end but whats next?
Episode 107: Sally McManus calls for end to war on workers, Labor federal ICAC is NACC and Queensland to end reliance on coal by 2035
Weekend Wrap 25 September 2022: Coalition doesn’t have policies its in opposition, Labor abolishing cashless debit card, creating a federal ICAC and leading in Vic and NSW
Episode 106: Morrison a cabinet of one, Labor’s new budget and new approach, gig reforms ready for delivery and good news in WA AND Queensland
Weekend Wrap 18th September 2022: RBA admits lack of worker power undermining wages and bosses profiteering
Episode 105: NSW state of chaos, too many jobs but not enough pay, breakthroughs in Ukraine and the good news is about air
Weekend Wrap 11th September 2022: SPECIAL Van Badham joins Ben to discuss parliament, the death of Queen Elizabeth II and what’s next
Episode 104: Qantas Gets Joyced, the Economy, and Dutton Goes Nuclear
Weekend Wrap 4th September 2022: Jobs Summit wins for workers, Dutton’s ideological blinkers and big business turns on small business
Episode 103: The jobs summit, wages, unequal pay day and tax cuts
Weekend Wrap 28th August 2022: Morrison Inquiry announced, Robodebt royal commission, Sally McManus on Insiders
Episode 102: Inquiry into Morrison’s power grab, ACTU Climate plan for jobs summit, neo-liberal higher ed and good news on PFAS
Weekend Wrap 21 August 2022 Barnaby admits ignoring Morrison power grab to keep perks, gig economy ruling needs overturning and Morrison’s grants scam
Episode 101: Morrison’s shadow government, unions launch skills and migration plan, wages cut as profits soar
Weekend Wrap 14 August 2022: Bowen’s masterclass on Insiders, Morrison’s COVID power grab and real economic reforms
Episode 100: Jobs summit clash, Trump raided and good news about the Great Barrier Reef
Weekend Wrap 7th August 2022: Climate progress as Dutton moves to culture war mode and a look at Uberisation in the NDIS
Episode 99: Broken economics, climate change targets, Liberals at it again and good news on plastic
Weekend Wrap 31st July 2022: Albo announces Voice question, grim economic outlook inspires rapid Labor agenda and rebalancing workplace power
Episode 98: The challenges facing Albo’s parliament, half of Australia has COVID, Morrison AWOL, Bison are BACK!
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free