Big bank Human Resource executives are being treated to a two day love-in,
including gourmet dinner, at one of Canberra’s most expensive hotels – as a
guest of the Australian taxpayer – to learn all about the IR changes.

With the departure of the long-time Age Melbourne Writers’ Festival Director,
Simon Clews, there has been a great deal of speculation about the possible
change of direction coming from their activist Board, led by Jan McGuinness.
The first clue may come from checking out their website
where “The Melbourne Writers’ Festival is supporting…a Once in a
Lifetime Dinner with the world acclaimed author Jeffrey Archer.” The
spruik for the dinner goes on to describe Jeffrey as “educated at
Oxford University. He was elected to the House of Commons in 1969 at
age 29, and appointed Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party in
1985. In 1992 he was elevated to the House of Lords. All of his novels
and short story collections have been international bestsellers…”
Oddly there is no mention that he is a convicted felon who had an
extensive stay as a guest of Her Majesty.

The workchoices hotline is currently being staffed by call centre workers
from several other organisations. But they seem to be unhappy with this new
assignment, as they aren’t being allowed the breaks they normally receive. A sign
of things to come?