Work Choices: dead or alive?

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has, since becoming leader, struggled with the notion of what to do about Work Choices.  This policy was central to the Howard Government and has been at the core of Liberal values for decades.  Abbott was a key member of the Government that implemented Work Choices and has long been an advocate of it. 

Earlier this week just prior to the election being called he spoke to the LNP Qld State Conference and said that Work Choices was not only dead but it had been cremated.  A strange line lacking wit, but it got the point across.  It was certainly better than his earlier statement that “the name Work Choices is dead.”

Tony Abbott then announced that there would be a 3 year moratorium on changes to Industrial Relation laws.  They would work within the laws and go to the umpire to settle any disputes.  But then came the startling admission from Senator Eric Abetz that they plan tweak the laws which means that through changes to the Regulations, which only require Ministerial consent, they can effectively do what tony Abbott said he would not do. 

Tony Abbott when question on the Today show seemed to indicate, what many people fear, that he will say on thing and do another.  He answered a question on whether he will bring back Work Choices after his first term by saying to Lisa Wilkinson, “Well, well Lisa, I've got an election to win”.  Later he spoke with Neil Mitchell where he hardened his position, presumably after speaking with his minders, and said that he would not be changing the legislation “not now, not ever”. 

The fear I have is that these statements fit into one of three Liberal election promise categories:

1. Non core promises
2. John Howard’s GST “never ever” promise
3. Tony Abbott’s make sure you get it in writing

But the startling part of Tony Abbott’s IR policy moratorium is that he freely admits that in 3 years time he will look to advance an agenda that would return some aspects of Work Choices.  Tony Abbott is looking for some fresh air between the Howard and (presumably) an Abbott Government with which to kill off public sentiment towards Work Choices. 

Tony Abbott is, as I blogged previously, more interested in winning elections and leaving wiggle room to change his policies.  He will say and do anything because he’s “got an election to win”.