Hazel Hawke’s Vital Role in Bob Hawke’s Success…
I was really pleased to see this article in TheAge this morning. Not only does it give another side to the “love story”, it also shows Hazel to be a prime example of an entrepreneurial mother, even when in a relationship. She did amazing things with the opportunities she had, and that’s all one can DO. Hats off to Hazel…
…It did not take long for Hazel to develop a following of her own – which in subsequent elections became a major reason voters supported Hawke. Hazel’s speech to the National Press Gallery in January 1984 established her as an unassuming, disarmingly honest, sincere and intelligent human being – an ordinary woman, one we could all identify with and admire for the way she handled herself.
There was a strong feeling among women that if Hazel stayed with Bob, he couldn’t be as bad as reports suggested.
In an interview on Sunday following the telemovie, Hawke struggled to remember what Hazel’s interests were as the prime minister’s wife. He came up with ”education”, but he could not remember any details.
Children, their welfare and the arts were Hazel’s priorities. Among other organisations, the Brotherhood of St Laurence, Austcare, the Australian Youth Orchestra, the NSW Heritage Council, World Wide Fund for Nature and the Australian Children’s Television Foundation had Hazel’s support. This meant she worked for them; she was not just a figurehead… keep reading
Self_Employed exceeds 2 million!
There’s a growing movement afoot…are you a part of it?
The latest from the Independent Contractors of Australia…
* The latest labour force survey released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (June 2008) shows a steady increase in the number of self-employed people. The number of self-employed people in the community is over 19% of the workforce. That¹s 2.03 million people (2008) up from 1.9 million (2004).
It¹s also clear that as people mature they gravitate toward self-employment. 50% of the self-employed are aged 35-54. 28% are older than 55. This could predictably result in larger numbers of self-employed as the workforce ages. For ICA’s full commentary on the latest ABS figures click here…
* Three further ATO links to help prepare for the end of the financial year (on tax deductions, business seminars and rental properties) can be found on their news page
Conspiracy of the Rich…The 8 New Rules of Money by Robert Kiyosaki
Not only is this a very clever may to market one’s wares and be extremely engaging, the chapters are also a most worthwhile read.
I strongly recommend you register yourself at http://conspiracyoftherich.com to not only avail of the process, but also the free chapters. And you never know, you might just want to throw in your two bobs worth too…
The Right Book. The Right Time. The Right Price.
Robert Kiyosaki, author of the #1 bestselling personal finance book of all time, Rich Dad Poor Dad is taking a new approach with his next book. He’s releasing the book, Conspiracy of the Rich: The 8 New Rules of Money, online — for free. And he’s inviting readers to participate in the writing process.
Conspiracy of the Rich: The 8 New Rules of Money, is an interactive project in which Kiyosaki not only offers his written ‘draft’ chapters online, but invites feedback, commentary and questions from readers across the globe via website forums and blogs. Reader feedback is then incorporated into the book as it is written and released, chapter by chapter, on the Internet. This bold and unique approach will enable the millions of people around the world who have put the Rich Dad principles to work in their lives — as well as those who are challenged by today’s harrowing economic times — to engage directly with Kiyosaki and literally help him shape his new book as it is being written.
“We are living in tumultuous, unsettling and frightening economic times,” said Rick Wolff, Vice President and Executive Editor for Hachette Book Group, publisher of Rich Dad Poor Dad and the 26 books in the Rich Dad series, “and Robert believes that people today, perhaps more than ever before, are hungry for information and financial education. The fact that he is committed to writing and distributing a new book to the world for free is amazing to us, and indicative of his genuine concern for the challenging economic times in which we live. Today, more than ever, the world needs a voice they can trust and someone they can rely on to deliver the cold, hard facts about what is really happening in the world.”
“This is the right book, at the right time, at the right price,” says Kiyosaki, in reference to the free and universal access to this book. “This is not the time for traditional answers. The time for this book is now — and the Web will let us do that.”
In Robert’s Words
“When I am interviewed for this book, I am often asked the question, “How did I get the idea to do this book?”Since I was asked so often, I thought I would share it with you. This book began in September 2008. I got the idea for the book as I was in the hospital recovering from open-heart surgery repairing a problem I have had since birth, two leaking valves. Fortunately, my arteries are clear so the operation was limited to just the heart.”
About the Book
Conspiracy of the Rich: The 8 New Rules of Money shares Kiyosaki’s view of global economics and explore why people are now finding themselves challenged by these turbulent times. Kiyosaki not only provides people with solutions to their financial problems, but explains what created today’s economic chaos — and how it can be eased. Conspiracy of the Rich: The 8 New Rules of Money reveals that what appears to be the worst of times is actually an opportunity in the making, and a chance for people to invest in their financial education.Read an excerpt from the book:
Back to the Future
Faced with such an overwhelmingly bad economy, President Bush pushed through a landmark bailout plan aimed at saving the economy, saying, “This legislation will safeguard and stabilize America’s financial system and put in place permanent reforms so these problems will never happen again.”Many people breathed a sigh of relief, thinking, “Finally, the government is going to save us!” The problem is those are not the words of President George W. Bush. Those are the words of his father, George H.W. Bush. In 1989, the first President Bush asked for $66 billion to save the Savings and Loan (S&L) Industry. The $66 billion did not solve the problem. The S&L industry disappeared from sight. On top of that, the estimated $66 billion rescue package eventually cost taxpayers over $150 billion – over twice the amount originally estimated. Where did all that money go?
Like Father Like Son
Twenty years later in September 2008, President W. Bush asked for $700 billion making a similar promise, “We’ll make sure, as time goes on, this doesn’t happen again. In the mean time, we got to solve the problem. And that’s why people sent me to Washington, D.C.”Just as with the first President Bush, the estimated bailout cost was severely undervalued. By November 2008, the total bailout pledge through various Treasury programs was up to $7 trillion and today is expected to go higher. Where is all this money coming from, where is it going… and to whom?
Find out…http://conspiracyoftherich.com
Tax alert for the self-employed
More great information from ICA…
At ICA we keep you ahead of the small business news that can affect you.
* It’s happened again! An independent contractor working through his own company has failed the ‘results test’. The court decision supports the ATO’s approach that people working through companies and trusts may have all the company/trust income treated and taxed as if it is their personal income. The ATO is auditing such arrangements, potentially affecting 700,000 workers in Australia. ICA recommends that potentially affected people immediately review their arrangements to ensure tax compliance. http://www.contractworld.com.au/reloaded/ica-news.php
* ICA is consistently impressed with the Victorian Government’s approach to small business. It leads Australia with dispute resolution through its Small Business Commissioner. It has just announced a small business marketing package which is worth looking at. http://www.business.vic.gov.au/BUSVIC/STANDARD//pc=PC_62627
* Do you have a rental property as an investment? The ATO has just released some information on claiming tax deductions for repairs, maintenance and capital works. The information is helpful and easy to read. http://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/pathway.asp?pc=001/002/002/010/005
Regards
The Team at Independent Contractors of Australia
National conference on independent contractor issues.
Independent Contractors of Australia is planning a national conference for late 2009 in Melbourne. We’ll keep you informed as plans unfold.
Fair Treatment under contracts
If you’re in business, then you need to read each of these articles…
ICA brings you the news and updates that others miss. If you¹re an independent contractor or a business engaging independent contractors, these news items are important.
* Have you ever been concerned that your contract is biased or unbalanced? Independent Contractors of Australia is working to do something about this. Click here: http://www.contractworld.com.au/reloaded/ica-news.php
* Tax breaks for independent contractors. Check this government
announcement:http://www.contractworld.com.au/pages/PDFs/Tax_Break_Fact_Emerson.pdf.
* It¹s about time business paid on time. The Small Business Minister sends a warning to big business. Pay up! http://www.contractworld.com.au/pages/PDFs/Emersonsmalldebts.pdf.
* Think about it! How do political trends in the UK impact in independent workers? http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/article_details.php?id=10608
Regards
The Team at Independent Contractors of Australia
Women need more than paid maternity leave can deliver – survey shows
Australian Institute of Management – News Release
Melbourne, December 1, 2008As Australia contemplates spending about $500 million a year on the introduction of a compulsory paid maternity leave scheme, a new survey reveals that only a minority of executives believe the scheme will boost the numbers of women in the workforce.
The survey, conducted by the Australian Institute of Management VT attracted 3,180 respondents from the executive ranks of private and government sector organisations. Just 33 per cent of the survey participants agreed that compulsory paid maternity leave would ‘benefit the recruitment and retention of women in the workforce.’ The survey is titled ‘Retaining women in the Workforce’.
The Australian Government’s Productivity Commission, which has made an initial recommendation that taxpayers fund 18 weeks paid maternity leave, is now working on its final report to Government following the completion of public forums on the issue last week (final report due in Feb 09). One of the goals of the Commission’s proposals on maternity leave is to achieve ‘greater workforce participation by women’.
Respondents to the survey were 55 per cent male and 45 per cent female. The minority support for compulsory paid maternity leave as a means of boosting the numbers of women in the workforce was indicated by men (only 26% support) and women (40% support).
Eighty seven per cent of survey respondents said that ‘more needs to be done to retain women in the Australian workforce’.
“Australia’s ageing population means that maximising the retention and contribution of women in the workforce is becoming a key business imperative,” the CEO of the Australian Institute of Management, (Vic/Tas) Ms Susan Heron said.The survey identified the most important single factor to retain women in the workforce was ‘flexible working arrangements’. The second most important factor was improved childcare support (10.0%), followed by improved career path (9.5%), paid maternity leave (7.0%), pay equity (6.9 %), training and professional development (5.1%) and other (3.4%).
“Whilst the Government’s move to consider the introduction of paid maternity leave is a welcome development, it is clear that by itself, this initiative will not significantly boost the retention of women in the workforce. Australian organisations need to embrace a broad range of measures to improve the situation.
“Our survey makes clear that greater flexibility in workplace arrangements is a key priority. The greater demand by women – and their partners – for options such as flexible working hours, the ability to work from home when required and job sharing point to the changes underway and indicate what lies ahead for Australian employers.”
Significantly, 63 per cent of participants believed that Australian organisations were not supportive of women ‘who seek to achieve seniority equivalent to their male counterparts.’
“This survey finding about lack of support for women helps us to understand why less than 15 per cent of women occupy the senior executive ranks of our major companies despite the fact that more than 50 per cent of tertiary graduates are women,” Ms Heron said.
“It is clear that Australia can no longer sustain such a poor return on its investment in tertiary education for women.”Eighty per cent of survey participants supported the view that having a child impacted ‘on a woman’s ability to achieve her career goals.’The survey revealed that 64 per cent of respondents had never worked in an organisation run by a woman CEO (or equivalent position).
However, respondents who worked in the public sector or in the not for profit sector were much more likely to have worked for a woman CEO (or equivalent). Fifty five per cent of respondents in the public sector and 62 per cent of those working for a not for profit entity reported they had worked for an organisation run by a woman.
SURVEY RESULTS – SOME KEY FACTS
• Only 33% of respondents believed that compulsory paid maternity leave would boost the recruitment and retention of women in the workforce
• 58% of respondents said the most important factor in retaining women in the workforce was flexible working arrangements
• 63% felt that Australian organisations were not supportive of women who seek to achieve seniority equivalent to their male counterparts
• 87% believed that more needs to be done to retain women in the workforce
• 80% said that having a child impacts on a woman’s ability to achieve her career goals
• 54% indicated that if compulsory paid maternity leave was introduced, it should be paid by a combination of ‘Govt. and Employer’
• More than 55% of respondents said that if compulsory paid maternity leave was introduced, it should be for a longer period than the 18 weeks nominated by the Productivity Commission
• 55% said that if compulsory paid maternity leave was introduced, that it should not replace the $5,000 Baby Bonus.For further information
W www.aimvic.com.au
E lfunston@aimvic.com.au
Unfair dismissal code for small business
Independent contractors who may employ others on some occasions need to be aware of the Rudd Government’s just-released unfair dismissal code which comes into effect in 2010.
For a link to a copy of the Code, please go to:
http://www.contractworld.com.au/reloaded/ica-news.php
and follow the link in the News box near the middle of the page.
Regards
The Team at Independent Contractors of Australia
Craig Emerson to launch major new research and book on independent contractors
On October 8th in Sydney, the Minister for Independent Contractors, Craig Emerson, will conduct the national launch of two significant publications into independent contractors:
Ken Phillips’s book ‘Independence and the Death of Employment’, and Monash University’s research ‘The Forgotten Workforce’.
For details, please go to:
http://www.contractworld.com.au/reloaded/ica-news.php
and follow the links in the ‘Major Initiative’ box near the head of the page.
Regards
The Team at Independent Contractors of Australia
aCE talentNET redesign #5
I’ve been wanting to update you on this for some time… but you know what? I’ve nothing to update you about because Design VIC have not got back to me since the post entry (10/7/08), and nor are they acknowledging receipt of follow-up emails either…
how very disappointing I must say.
The potential for this exercise to be beneficial all round is enormous, but, given the nature of the beast, I cannot do it on my own. Maybe I’m pushing the envelope by asking for stuff that they are not actually ready to deliver, maybe they can’t access a designer who is capable in this type of Service Design yet and maybe they are therefore at a loss as to what to do… but it would be good if they shared the maybe’s!
My aCE colleague Deirdre Gruiters pointed out to me the other day that “I am ahead of my time” and to be honest, that is an accusation I have quite often had levelled at me over the years. And you know what, I think it’s right!!
So… this little journey will not be continuing for the time being, unless I hear back from Design VIC and we get back on track…
how very disappointing…
Children of the new universe need a real education revolution
by Patricia Edgar (for TheAge.com.au) is co-author with Don Edgar of The New Child: In Search of Smarter Grown-ups to be published next month.
A dedicated minister should be coordinating government policy.
ALMOST every day the media report disastrous stories about kids who are out of control, too fat, too sexy, disrespectful, too full of themselves for their own good, with parents and teachers concerned about their children’s future.
Who is this new child? And how do we raise children to be intelligent, optimistic and confident of their own abilities, without turning them into self-centred, arrogant little individuals who are not concerned with the wider common good.
Children are now a minority group.
In the world of education we still talk about ‘children’ but teachers and many parents are falling way behind in mastering the educational changes in teaching and learning that new media herald. Instead the mass media are permitted to operate counter to the best interests of children, in effect undermining values, healthy lifestyles and the authority of parents.
In short the new child deserves smarter adults at every level, who are thinking more carefully about how current policies and programs could be improved and better linked.
well Patricia, I agree and I hear you!
not only are your comments resonating with my personal views, you are also making similar observations and asking similar questions to Thomas Friedman in “The World is Flat”
(if you’ve not listened to this yet, please do yourself a favour and do so… click here to do so)
I’ll be interested in reading your book at some stage soon
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