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Hey Bill Shorten, why not call Australian small business owners instead of a Japanese car marker?

I was surprised to read that Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten called the President of Toyota Australia after he complained about sick days following the Australia Day public holiday?

Plenty of Australian business owners, including small business owners, have complained about the sickies epidemic previously.

Bill Shorten calling the boss of Toyota is typical of a politician out of touch with his constituency. Both sides of politics pander to foreign companies and the big end of town. It sucks.

Small business is more important economically to Australia yet we don’t get called. Politicians of both sides d’n;t ask for our opinion. It’s seems all too hard to them, they’d rather make on call and get a bit of publicity for that.

A smart Bill Shorten would call Australian small business owners and find out what they think about the industrial relations system. My number is 0418 321 338.

I did not like Workchoices and I am not a fan of what replaced it.  If we want a competitive and fit economy we, all of us, need changes.

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  1. Russell

    With the backroom decisions Shorten has made so far, calling an overseas CEO about Australian working conditions shows it’s all about BILL and his rise to the top. God help Australia if reaches the lodge.

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  2. Kevin

    He probably rang to discuss TMCs donation to the ALP campaign fund. THis guy is ruthless in his pursuit of power. He is well known for preferring big corporates to small business. Big organisations are far more likely to be unionised and with that union membership comes funding and power for the ALP. He will actively support the big chains in a battle against small business on any given day.

    Mr Yasudas whinging is just a furphy. Blind Freddie could anticipate that absenteeism will rise on a day between a public holiday and the weekend. This happens in any country, yes even Japan. A more proactive manager would plan ahead, stop the factory on Friday, book a day against everyones annual leave, and turn it into a 4 day weekend.

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  3. Mark

    This is not a party political problem. Both sides of politics ignore small business, they each have a bad history.

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  4. Reg

    Yep Shorten should make a call all right – about why australia’s newsagents get a closed market. Why are they allowed to exclude competition, when everyone else has to compete. Remove the monopoly now, with zero compensation for the existing newsagencies.

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  5. Reg

    You should print my comment

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  6. Mark Fletcher

    Reg as your comment was your first it was waiting to be moderated.

    Newsagents do not operate in a closed market. They are not allowed to exclude competition. There is no monopoly.

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  7. Luke

    I’d like to know what Reg thinks we have a monopoly over? Can you list them Reg
    Mags – no
    paper – no
    Stationery – no
    Lotteries – no as 7-11 stores now sell lotteries as well as some other outlets
    Greeting Cards – no
    Tobacco – no
    Delivery of newspapers – no as we have talked about here and in other posts when it suits the publisher they use a variety of delivery methods not just newsagents.
    So where is the monopoly Reg or are you just just stirring the pot?

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  8. Kevin

    Reg you need a lesson in Business 101. newsagents aren’t protected by any regulation. We have commercial distribution agreements agreed between principals and agents) in the same way as many other businesses that represent brands in a market place . There is no monopoly. There is simply a negotiated commercial agreement that allows both principal and agent to invest and trade in a specific market place. Get some facts before you blast off with your erroneous nonsense .

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  9. SHAUN S

    Reg , na not even worth a reply

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  10. Paul

    lol – Reg must be one of Shortens advisors or just as badly informed or ignorant.

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  11. Peter

    As I see it we have a 2 Party system, Big Business and Big Labour. They have efectively divided the Political Landscape and funding between each other. This in a lot of ways is the nature of our society, 1 V another, Legal Systems, Team Sports and even retail Coles V Woolies and plenty of others. This 1 V Another(2) is often exnded to 4 or 5 look at the banks. SME need a more inclusive system where all can have a say rather than the big 2.

    So Toyota because it is big business deserves a response while we as small business do no even get on the radar. We have to put up with the paternalistic attitudes from both sides and adapt to systems devised by Big Labour and Big Business or both. Charterised by the attitude this is exactlty what you needed and it will be good for you. Usally something we had not asked for like the present OHS and IR regiems.

    If we try to vote to change this we stand little chance as our electoral system in my view supports and is biased to a 2 party electoral system in the houses of parliment where governments are formed.

    How do we get SME on the radar. I wish I knew how to effect the change for this to happen.

    You are right in what you have said Mark about our IR system though I doubt we will ever be consulted rather we will be imposed on. The important concept of Productivity is missing.

    With any thing in life he who pays the pipper calls the Tune and it is no diffterent with politics.

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  12. Helen

    I don’t want big business running the country.

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  13. Derek

    Y&G

    I heard you all the way down south when it happened, good on you for putting time in to do this.

    The door was opened for the Newsagent Channel to have their say when Mr Shorten short sighted and inaccurate comment about Newsagents.

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