All over the media this morning we have stories about the reaction of business to the new ALP policy on industrial relations. Shock, horror business is saying it doesn't like the new policy. Commentators are reacting predictably, many suggesting that we, or perhaps the ALP, should be worried about the reaction of business.
But why would the ALP be worried? There are many more workers than business owners and this shift must be about possible electoral success. So, is it the ALP spin doctors who are running the lines about the reaction of big business and are they sucking in the right wing commentators to their cause? Is the ALP trying to make out that this is really a policy that supports workers?
In fact, the real surprise is the movement of the ALP, apparently in concert with the unions, away from 120 years of fundamental policy supporting the right of workers to withdraw their labour and to do so in concert with others.
Is there not a responsibility on media commentators to try to go beyond the spin and to inform their readers? Shouldn't they be talking about the lurch to the right of ALP? Might they even talk about principles going up in smoke on the altar of electoral success?
Of course the world of work has changed during the last 120 years and different policy is required but we would be better served by the media through a more thoughtful analysis of that change and comment on how best to manage the, at times, competing rights of the community and individuals within it.
