Backlash begins on Australia's new work laws

CANBERRA - Prime Minister John Howard's increasingly unpopular Government faced further flak yesterday as tens of thousands of people choked cities to protest against new work laws.

The laws, which removed many rights and conditions that had protected workers for decades, have become a defining battleground for next year's federal election.

Howard has conceded that industrial relations will be a major challenge, and he had "no doubt" that the industrial package would be dumped if his opponents Labor won the election.

Backed by reinvigorated unions, Labor leader Kim Beazley has targeted the laws as an issue that could oust the 10-year-old Coalition Government.

"When we get into office in 18 months' time we will rip up these laws," he told a cheering crowd of up to 100,000 people in Melbourne.

"That is the first thing we are going to do, and then we will put in place laws based on true Australian values that make sure families can support themselves in their aspirations."

The growing campaign has gained support from New Zealand, where union officials yesterday met Australian High Commissioner John Dauth to express their concerns and distributed anti-Howard leaflets in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

Opinion polls show that most Australians oppose the laws, introduced three months ago, and believe they will damage the economy.

A report by economic forecaster BIS Shrapnel this week said the laws would do little to improve growth, productivity or increase the pool of skilled labour - all central to the Government's argument for the reforms.

Further criticism came yesterday in a survey of more than 1400 company executives, managers and employees by the Australian Institute of Managemenr, which said workers, business owners and bosses were confused and disillusioned by the reforms.

More than 60 per cent said they had little to no knowledge of the laws, that they would harm employees' job security and that wages would suffer.

The new laws have forced industrial relations to a much higher level in opinion poll listings of voters' major concerns, and have contributed to the Government's sliding popularity.

Although Howard still easily beats Beazley as preferred Prime Minister, a Morgan poll last week reported that Labor now held a lead of 53 per cent to 47 per cent in the two-party preferred voting system of Australian elections.

Newspoll also found last week that the Government's 2004 election day lead had been cut to 2 per cent.

"We are going to talk about this until there is no other issue but decency and fairness in workplace rights as the next election issue," Australian Council of Trade Unions president Sharan Burrow told the crowd in Melbourne.

In Sydney, an estimated 40,000 banner and flag-waving protesters packed Blacktown showground.

Tens of thousands more joined demonstrations in Perth, Adelaide, Darwin, Hobart, Launceston and more than 20 regional centres across the country.

Bad business

The new laws:

* Remove protection from unfair dismissal.

* Remove rights to overtime, paid public holidays, allowances and meal breaks.

* Ban key union provisions, including access to workplaces and involvement in disputes.