Episode 128 Inflation slows, workers call for wages and just transition, Aston byelection, Liberal MPs injure worker and good news about Skinks!

Van Badham and Ben Davison discuss what the latest inflation
figures might mean for working people when the high priests of
neo-liberal monetary policy at the Reserve Bank meet again. Van
and Ben discuss how the bosses lobby groups think they can argue
the RBA needs to raise interest rates to create more unemployment
but also not that the Fair Work Commission shouldn't raise
minimum wages because it would cause unemployment. 
Ultimately they're just fronting for more profits.  Which is
why unions are arguing for a wage rise that keeps up with the
cost of living.  You can join you unions at
australianunions.org.au/wow


As well as calling for wage rises the President of the ACTU,
Michele O'Neil, gave a national press club speech this week
calling for the establishment of a Just Transition
Authority.  Van and Ben discuss why Australia needs
coordinated action on climate change and how, without such a
tri-partite body, it isn't anyone's job to make sure that the
economic transition is just, equitable or orderly.


Saturday is the first by-election since the 2022 federal election
with Labor's Mary Doyle up against the Liberal Roshena from
Brunswick in the seat of Aston (which is about an hours tram
& bus ride from Brunswick). Today's revelations about the
Liberal candidate's policy hypocrisy have people thinking Labor
is in with a chance, even though it would be a historic victory
for a sitting government to win a seat from the opposition at a
by-election.


Of course, Van and Ben couldn't ignore the behaviour of six
member's of Peter Dutton's caucus, including three members of his
front bench, who injured a parliament house worker while trying
to avoid casting their votes in the house of
representatives.  Ben and Van discuss why this sort of thing
has happened, how it not only breaks parliamentary rules but also
the fundamental rule; No worker should ever be injured at work.


The podcast does have some good news about the Desert Skink which
Ben explains after Van acknowledges our Cadre and Extend the
Reach supporters who are chipping in monthly contributions via
www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday