British Rule Is to Blame

In March 2006, the Howard government introduced a new Industrial Relations Act, to be known as "WorkChoices". This legislation was introduced by the government in hope to increase Australian Business and decrease annual foreign debt. However, through this act, many Australian Laborers will be losing such rights as overtime, health benefits and penalty rates usually associated with a contract. It will also become harder for the youths of Australia to gain and hold any fair paying employment.

1.0 Explaining the Challenge

1.1 Background

The Workplace Relations Amendment Act became effective as of the 27th of March 2006. The government was able to pass the amendment by the federal government because it won a majority of seats in both the House of Representatives and the senate in the last federal election in October 2004. It involves a radical change to industrial relations structures in Australia. "WorkChoices is an attempt to create a unified national industrial relations system through the use of federal government's corporations' power in the Australian constitution" (WorkChoices: A Review of the New IR System, Tim Riley 2006), (Appendix 1).

1.2 Who is Involved

Besides the obvious government and association participation (See Appendix 1), employers and employees of Australia are effective by these new laws. Employees can expect a substantial impact on pay and rights. Also unions of workers have been affected. Under the new laws they have lost power and rights to investigate any mistreatment in work places. New protocol being set means that employers no longer have to comply with union demands (Appendix 2).

1.3 The Effects

Employers will be the ones to suffer the majority of negative effects. They may be forced to sign an individual contract, obstructing their rights regarding: penalty rates, work hours, health benefits, awards, dismissal and working rates, (Appendix 3). To maintain their jobs they will have to sacrifice family and other commitments and their salary. This will have a dramatic effect on the employment and family statistics such as divorce. The main victims of these unfair work rights will be the youths of Australia. With no rights relating to working hours and penalty rates they can expect to find it hard to uphold any real employment. They will be used by employees as cheap and easy staff. See Appendix 4 for information in relation to pay and award rights and coverage of workers.

2.0 The Catholic Response

2.1 Group Work

As major employers, the Catholic Church has actively set up the Catholic Commission for Employment Relations. This organization provides leadership to the Catholic employers across Australia (Appendix 5). Also the Catholic Commission for Women has spoken out against the bill in an effort to change the government's opinion.

2.2 Individuals

In response to the WorkChoices Act 2006, Catholic Leader Cardinal Pell has made comments, he believes the WorkChoices will be used to force down minimum wages (See Appendix 6). Other individuals from the Catholic Church, speaking against the legislature amendment include Catholic Bishop Kevin Manning and the Bishop of Broome and Chairman of Australian Catholic Social Justice Council (ACSJC), Christopher Saunders (See Appendix 7). All of these leaders have made public protest against these laws in recent speeches and statements. Though no action has been taken, these leaders are currently supporting and running the Catholic Commission for Employment Relations.

2.3 The Future

At the moment no active protest has been made in an effort to change the government's opinions on the matter. However many leaders of religious groups around Australia have joined together to support such unions and organizations as ACTU (Australian Council of Trade Unions), (See Appendix 8).

2.4 Other Churches

Other churches actively speaking against the new legislation include the leaders of Anglican and Uniting Churches. Anglican Bishop of Tasmania, John Harrower, Uniting Church Reverend Sue Gormann, Anglican Archbishop of Melbourne, Peter Watson and Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, Peter Jensen who have all made public demonstrations of disapproval of the governments actions (Appendix 9).

3.0 Model of Church

3.1 Definition

Church, in literal meanings: a building for Christian worship, however, a definition of the structure and belonging to a church is much different.