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Why Australia Sucks!!!

StinkiePeasants

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The best part of this video is when he talks about A$72 parking fee for 3 hours of parking in Brisbane CBD. What a ripoff!!!

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/QMt0LZHTKk4?list=UUQ0qP6koCeknuEjb11DjX_Q" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 

StinkiePeasants

Alfrescian
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Australia The Rip Off Country - Why everything Aussie is so expensive

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/CkicM7WTq4E" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 

The_Hypocrite

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If oz is soo bad . How come heaps of ppl r trying to get in? Heaps of mudlanders, ah tiongs etc r dying to get here..
 

StinkiePeasants

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If oz is soo bad . How come heaps of ppl r trying to get in? Heaps of mudlanders, ah tiongs etc r dying to get here..

Those ah tiong boat people who are desperate to enter Australia are mostly poor peasants in their own country & have nothing to lose if they can enter Australia to work as busboys at Chinese restaurants.

Those ah tiong millionaires who entered via the Migrant Investor Program don't complian the ripoff prices since they have too much money to burn obtained from corruption back in China.
 

StinkiePeasants

Alfrescian
Loyal
AUSTRALIA SUCKS - World's Most Expensive Parking

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/ROHZQiMCv1Y?list=UUQ0qP6koCeknuEjb11DjX_Q" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 

StinkiePeasants

Alfrescian
Loyal
BRISBANE SUCKS

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/IJa9uCBg2Z4?list=UUQ0qP6koCeknuEjb11DjX_Q" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 

The_Hypocrite

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Asset



<header class="page-header page-header- " id="_header"> [h=1]Pipe jobs go to foreign labour[/h] <aside class="page-header-aside "> <dl class="page-header-aside-list"><dd class="page-header-aside-source"> Peter Klinger </dd><dd class="page-header-aside-time-stamp">December 24, 2014, 5:22 am</dd></dl> </aside> <section class="clearfix rapid-track" data-value="social_share" id="y7module549ccb21d8690"> Share


</section>
</header> <figure class="article-figure article-hero-figure">
420513581-1a9jnj1.jpg
</figure> Skilled Group workers involved in laying the billion-dollar 889km subsea pipeline linking the Ichthys gas-condensate field off the Kimberley with Darwin are facing a bleak Christmas amid heightened concerns they will lose their jobs to overseas labour.
Skilled, which has supplied about 600 workers to Italian contractor Saipem to work on pipelaying vessels, has told the largely Perth-based fly-in, fly-out crew a shift was under way to employ more foreign workers while rosters had also changed, from a three-week on, three-week off routine to four-and-four.
It is understood about 90 Skilled workers have been told they will not be retained for the second stage of the Ichthys job, to be carried out on the Castorone, a 330m long hi-tech vessel capable of laying pipe in deep waters.
There had been expectations by the Skilled workers they would be retained for the entire pipeline job. However, Saipem's push for foreign workers and a new roster and productivity target are expected to see at least 200 foreign workers employed.
Skilled refused to comment.
A shift to foreign labour is likely to also be a blow for Skilled.
The labour hire company has sent letters to workers declaring "Saipem has explored the option of bringing international crews to complete the Castorone scope of the work, which would replace Australian crew on the vessel".
Skilled added that Saipem's push was "legal under current immigration guidelines (but following) constructive dialogue between all parties, a proposed agreement has been reached which would see Australian crew employed in as many roles as possible on board the Castorone".
Critics claim Skilled's trade-off with Saipem has sparked a family unfriendly new roster and higher productivity targets that are designed to force out local workers.
Federal Member for Perth Alannah MacTiernan, who has unsuccessfully campaigned against changes to the Commonwealth's 457 visa scheme that removed the need to test the local employment market first, said the Skilled issue validated her long-held concerns. "These workers who are being replaced are highly skilled and are now facing unemployment," she said.
Inpex, which runs the $US34 billion ($42 billion) Ichthys LNG development, said Castorone staffing was a matter for the contractor and its employees. "Inpex has been working with Saipem to maximise the number of Australian workers employed on this project," a spokeswoman said.




https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/business/wa/a/25850678/pipe-jobs-go-to-foreign-labour/
 

The_Hypocrite

Alfrescian (Inf)
Asset
Big Brother at work again,,,

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-28/victorian-government-new-regulations-for-raw-milk/5990172

[h=1]Raw milk producers to be forced to make their product unpalatable under new Victorian regulations[/h] Updated <time title="Sun 28 Dec 2014, 10:59am" class="relative " datetime="Sun Dec 28 2014 10:59:45 GMT+0800" data-format="l">52 minutes agoSun 28 Dec 2014, 10:59am</time>
Photo: Raw milk label which states "for cosmetic use only - not for human consumption". (ABC News)
Map: Melbourne 3000

Raw milk producers will be subject to tough new restrictions, making it harder to sell the product for human consumption, the Victorian Government has said.
Under the new regulations, dairy farmers producing milk must either make it safe for human consumption or make it unpalatable by adding a bittering agent.
"Raw milk producers will have to either treat the milk with a pasteurisation process to make sure that any harmful bacteria are killed before there is a risk that consumers will drink it," Victorian Minister for Consumer Affairs Jane Garrett said.
"If they don't wish to go through this pasteurisation process, they will be required to add a very small drop of an agent that makes the milk entirely unpalatable.
"This means that the smallest amount will make the individual recoil in horror, which will prevent absolutely the deliberate or accidental consumption."
Earlier this month a three-year old boy died after drinking Mountain View Farm unpasteurised milk on the Mornington Peninsula, in Melbourne's south.
The Victorian Health Department said four other children also became ill after drinking the product.
Have your say: what do you think of the new restrictions? Should people be allowed to buy raw milk? Or should it be made unpalatable as a precaution?


The new rules allow manufacturers and farmers to turn raw milk into non-edible products, Ms Garrett said.
"It is used often in making soap for example, or making stock feed and that can be done without it ever gracing the shelves," she said.
Mountain View Farm said it was happy to work with the Health Department, but that legal advice prevented it from commenting further.
Ms Garrett said farmers who breached the new rules would face a fine and could have their licences cancelled.
"These new conditions will help protect Victorians from the serious risks of drinking raw unpasteurised milk," Ms Garrett said.
"Despite the labelling of raw milk as not fit for human consumption, some Victorians have been put at risk from drinking it.
"Raw milk has legitimate uses, but is not safe to drink. We are going to better regulate the industry to protect consumers."
[h=2]Raw milk sold as bath milk[/h]Raw milk is sold in Victoria as bath milk and labelled "not safe for human consumption".
But on December 11, Victoria's Chief Health Officer Dr Rosemary Lester said she was concerned that cosmetic milk was being sold next to drinking milk, and had written to Victorian Consumer Affairs about the issue.
"Unpasteurised milk is labelled and sold for cosmetic use only, but the packaging is often very similar to other milk products," Dr Lester said.
"Many people will have been drinking it without affect, but we can't guarantee that it's safe."
Since the 1940s it had been compulsory to pasteurise cow's milk for drinking in Australia, Dr Lester said.
"Milk is heated for a very short period of time effectively destroying any disease-causing bacteria which may be present in raw milk.
"Everyone is vulnerable to illness caused by the pathogens present in raw milk, but the risks are even greater for young children and for the elderly, those with underlying health problems, immuno-compromised or pregnant.
"No matter what precautions are taken by dairy farmers during milking, there can be no guarantee that the milk will be free from harmful bacteria, making pasteurisation essential."
Victoria's State Coroner is investigating the death of the boy who died after drinking raw unpasteurised milk.
 

winnipegjets

Alfrescian (Inf)
Asset
Big Brother at work again,,,

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-28/victorian-government-new-regulations-for-raw-milk/5990172

[h=1]Raw milk producers to be forced to make their product unpalatable under new Victorian regulations[/h] Updated <time title="Sun 28 Dec 2014, 10:59am" class="relative " datetime="Sun Dec 28 2014 10:59:45 GMT+0800" data-format="l">52 minutes agoSun 28 Dec 2014, 10:59am</time>
Photo: Raw milk label which states "for cosmetic use only - not for human consumption". (ABC News)
Map: Melbourne 3000

Raw milk producers will be subject to tough new restrictions, making it harder to sell the product for human consumption, the Victorian Government has said.
Under the new regulations, dairy farmers producing milk must either make it safe for human consumption or make it unpalatable by adding a bittering agent.
"Raw milk producers will have to either treat the milk with a pasteurisation process to make sure that any harmful bacteria are killed before there is a risk that consumers will drink it," Victorian Minister for Consumer Affairs Jane Garrett said.
"If they don't wish to go through this pasteurisation process, they will be required to add a very small drop of an agent that makes the milk entirely unpalatable.
"This means that the smallest amount will make the individual recoil in horror, which will prevent absolutely the deliberate or accidental consumption."
Earlier this month a three-year old boy died after drinking Mountain View Farm unpasteurised milk on the Mornington Peninsula, in Melbourne's south.
The Victorian Health Department said four other children also became ill after drinking the product.
Have your say: what do you think of the new restrictions? Should people be allowed to buy raw milk? Or should it be made unpalatable as a precaution?


The new rules allow manufacturers and farmers to turn raw milk into non-edible products, Ms Garrett said.
"It is used often in making soap for example, or making stock feed and that can be done without it ever gracing the shelves," she said.
Mountain View Farm said it was happy to work with the Health Department, but that legal advice prevented it from commenting further.
Ms Garrett said farmers who breached the new rules would face a fine and could have their licences cancelled.
"These new conditions will help protect Victorians from the serious risks of drinking raw unpasteurised milk," Ms Garrett said.
"Despite the labelling of raw milk as not fit for human consumption, some Victorians have been put at risk from drinking it.
"Raw milk has legitimate uses, but is not safe to drink. We are going to better regulate the industry to protect consumers."
[h=2]Raw milk sold as bath milk[/h]Raw milk is sold in Victoria as bath milk and labelled "not safe for human consumption".
But on December 11, Victoria's Chief Health Officer Dr Rosemary Lester said she was concerned that cosmetic milk was being sold next to drinking milk, and had written to Victorian Consumer Affairs about the issue.
"Unpasteurised milk is labelled and sold for cosmetic use only, but the packaging is often very similar to other milk products," Dr Lester said.
"Many people will have been drinking it without affect, but we can't guarantee that it's safe."
Since the 1940s it had been compulsory to pasteurise cow's milk for drinking in Australia, Dr Lester said.
"Milk is heated for a very short period of time effectively destroying any disease-causing bacteria which may be present in raw milk.
"Everyone is vulnerable to illness caused by the pathogens present in raw milk, but the risks are even greater for young children and for the elderly, those with underlying health problems, immuno-compromised or pregnant.
"No matter what precautions are taken by dairy farmers during milking, there can be no guarantee that the milk will be free from harmful bacteria, making pasteurisation essential."
Victoria's State Coroner is investigating the death of the boy who died after drinking raw unpasteurised milk.

Big brother there is to protect consumers ...big brother in Sinkapore is to make the PAP richer. Be thankful.
 

neddy

Alfrescian (Inf)
Asset
If u believe tat the aussies r tat benevolent. U got to get yr head check.

Aussie govt is very benevolent, after grabbing 30% tax from those earning $189k.
Then you have the bleeding hearts, who have time to be nice to everyone because they are given generous dole.

But, my advice.
Stay away from Western Australian property investment for the time being, unless you know what you are getting into. Don't believe the BS about apartment living. The strata fee will hurt.

Singapore's Fragrance Group and Creasenda are now caught in a very serious downturn in Perth economy.
They don't know it yet. It is going to be worse than what I predicted about 2014 previously.
 

Ash007

Alfrescian
Loyal
Hi needy long time no see.
I'm waiting for 2016 when the eastern states starts dropping, especially sydney. Already the banks are calling for interest cuts!
Aussie govt is very benevolent, after grabbing 30% tax from those earning $189k.
Then you have the bleeding hearts, who have time to be nice to everyone because they are given generous dole.

But, my advice.
Stay away from Western Australian property investment for the time being, unless you know what you are getting into. Don't believe the BS about apartment living. The strata fee will hurt.

Singapore's Fragrance Group and Creasenda are now caught in a very serious downturn in Perth economy.
They don't know it yet. It is going to be worse than what I predicted about 2014 previously.
 

The_Hypocrite

Alfrescian (Inf)
Asset
Yeah. See alot of new housing coming n apartments n units. Wonder if it investment or owner occupiers. .if its investment. .good luck in them trying t9 find tenants. With such a huge increase in supply. Demand is dropping. .

Aussie govt is very benevolent, after grabbing 30% tax from those earning $189k.
Then you have the bleeding hearts, who have time to be nice to everyone because they are given generous dole.

But, my advice.
Stay away from Western Australian property investment for the time being, unless you know what you are getting into. Don't believe the BS about apartment living. The strata fee will hurt.

Singapore's Fragrance Group and Creasenda are now caught in a very serious downturn in Perth economy.
They don't know it yet. It is going to be worse than what I predicted about 2014 previously.
 

neddy

Alfrescian (Inf)
Asset
Yeah. See alot of new housing coming n apartments n units. Wonder if it investment or owner occupiers. .if its investment. .good luck in them trying t9 find tenants. With such a huge increase in supply. Demand is dropping. .

I caught up with some people over the weekend. The message from the real estate people is that they are looking for sign of life in the industry. Even at this seasonal low, this is bad bad bad!

The Treasury folks are fairing worse over the lost of resources royalties. Their fountain of reds since the half year budget review is nothing worse than worst. They are talking about how to pay public servants their full salaries if the situation can't improve by end of this financial year. Yes, it is that bad.
 

Ash007

Alfrescian
Loyal
Time to short AUD then ?
I caught up with some people over the weekend. The message from the real estate people is that they are looking for sign of life in the industry. Even at this seasonal low, this is bad bad bad!

The Treasury folks are fairing worse over the lost of resources royalties. Their fountain of reds since the half year budget review is nothing worse than worst. They are talking about how to pay public servants their full salaries if the situation can't improve by end of this financial year. Yes, it is that bad.
 

krafty

Alfrescian (Inf)
Asset
yups looking at aussie dollar, it's telling obviously that the economy has weakened. but dun fret, in the long run, china will strengthen and when that happen all will be well for aussie.


I caught up with some people over the weekend. The message from the real estate people is that they are looking for sign of life in the industry. Even at this seasonal low, this is bad bad bad!

The Treasury folks are fairing worse over the lost of resources royalties. Their fountain of reds since the half year budget review is nothing worse than worst. They are talking about how to pay public servants their full salaries if the situation can't improve by end of this financial year. Yes, it is that bad.
 

The_Hypocrite

Alfrescian (Inf)
Asset
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-03-07/eric-abetz-workplace-law-review/5305282


[h=1]Workplace law inquiry: Eric Abetz says Productivity Commission to conduct promised review; union warns 'everything on the table'[/h] Updated 7 Mar 2014, 2:30pmFri 7 Mar 2014, 2:30pm
The Federal Government says the Productivity Commission will undertake a "comprehensive" review of workplace laws, sparking union warnings that "everything is up for grabs".

The draft terms of reference for the inquiry, which include penalty rates, pay and conditions, unfair dismissal, enterprise bargaining flexibility and union militancy, have been leaked to Fairfax Media.
The draft report says the review will consider the performance of the Fair Work Act and "identify future options to improve the laws".

It notes the inquiry will bear in mind the "need to ensure workers are protected, the need for business to be able to grow, prosper and employ, and the need to reduce unnecessary and excessive regulation".
Read page one and page two of the draft terms of reference for the inquiry.
The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) has accused the Government of being "intent on lowering living standards".

But Workplace Minister Eric Abetz says the terms of reference have not been finalised and he is still consulting with the states.
He says the terms of reference will be in line with what the Coalition promised at the last election.

"We're not doing anything more, anything less, other than undertaking a comprehensive review of the laws and a thorough analysis, which is exactly what we promised," he told the ABC's AM program.
"We went to the people at the last election promising a thorough review and that is what we'll have.

"What we're doing is giving an independent body that has a reputation for social sensitivity and economic robustness the opportunity to advise as to future direction for workplace relations laws."
Senator Abetz says the Government will not intervene in penalty rates, saying they should be set by the independent Fair Work Commission.

But Labor and the unions say the Government’s secret agenda for 'radical industrial relation change' is being exposed.
The Opposition's employment spokesman, Brendan O'Connor, said the terms of reference were "frightening".
He said the controversial WorkChoices legislation had only been "sedated" and not "dead, buried and cremated" as the Government said.

"The breadth of these terms of reference is quite frankly, frightening....everything is up for grabs," he said.
"Given the history of this party ... people have every right to be sceptical when the Government says, 'This is only a review.'"

[h=2]Government 'intent on lowering living standards'[/h] But ACTU president Ged Kearney says the Abbott Government is determined to "weaken the industrial relations system" and force wages lower.

They have time after time refused to say that they do not want to get rid of penalty rates and we know in fact that they do.
ACTU president Ged Kearney
"What we have here with this Productivity Commission review is a wide-ranging terms of reference that will throw everything onto the table. It means everything is up for grabs," she said.

"Now everything that this Government has said about industrial relations so far shows that they are absolutely 100 per cent intent on lowering people's wages.
"They have time after time refused to say that they do not want to get rid of penalty rates and we know in fact that they do. Several of their backbenchers have said so.

"They are intent on lowering Australian workers' standards of living."

The Productivity Commission inquiry is due to report back in April 2015, with the next federal election due around August 2016.
 

The_Hypocrite

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Asset
https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/26086109/owners-call-time-on-penalty-rates/
[h=1]Owners call time on penalty rates[/h] Kim Macdonald and Gareth Parker January 24, 2015, 2:30 am
Share
C:\Users\VALUED~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image001.jpg
Dinner's off menu: Jacki O'Hara, general manager of The Peasant's Table in Mt Hawthorn. Picture: Nic Ellis/The West Australian A local restaurant owner wants a Federal inquiry into workplace relations to end penalty rates that will cost her an extra $900 in wages to open on Australia Day.
Jacki O'Hara, general manager of The Peasant's Table in Mt Hawthorn, said she would struggle to break even when she opened for breakfast and lunch on Monday.
She said she would do it as a service to her loyal customers, but would close at 5pm before the usual dinner trade because it would cost her too much money to stay open.
Ms O'Hara said penalty rates - almost $50 an hour for her staff - were outdated in the era of fly-in, fly-out and shift work.
She urged the Australian Productivity Commission to consider the impact of weekend and public holiday penalties on small-business owners in its workplace review.
A discussion paper also raises the prospect of reducing weekend and other penalty rates, potentially replacing them with time off in lieu.
But Ms O'Hara believes a flat rate around the clock would be easier to administer and for operations.
"As a business owner, you can't just open and close when you think you will make money, because you provide a service to your customers," she said.
"I will be happy if I break even on Monday. Last year, trade was dead on Australia Day."
UnionsWA has said it will fight to maintain penalty rates while Colin Barnett said they should be maintained but made "more realistic".
"I support penalty rates," the Premier said. "If people are working at night or over weekends, they should be paid more on an hourly basis, but that should be fair.
"When you get penalty rates that are up to three times the normal hourly rate, that is stopping employment in the hospitality and tourism industries," Mr Barnett said.
"We are losing jobs we would otherwise have, and I think it's unfair to those other people who maybe work Monday to Friday in normal hours."
He said the review would be closely watched by the State Government. It is considering changing awards for unincorporated small businesses, which remain in the State industrial relations jurisdiction.
Mr Barnett said big businesses had negotiated lower penalty rates with unions.
Australian Hotels Association chief executive Bradley Woods said he would fight for lower penalties.
"Every long weekend owners of hotels, pubs, small bars and restaurants are faced with a decision to open or not due to out-dated penalty rates which raise costs for consumers," he said.
 

winnipegjets

Alfrescian (Inf)
Asset
https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/26086109/owners-call-time-on-penalty-rates/
[h=1]Owners call time on penalty rates[/h] Kim Macdonald and Gareth Parker January 24, 2015, 2:30 am
Share
C:\Users\VALUED~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image001.jpg
Dinner's off menu: Jacki O'Hara, general manager of The Peasant's Table in Mt Hawthorn. Picture: Nic Ellis/The West Australian A local restaurant owner wants a Federal inquiry into workplace relations to end penalty rates that will cost her an extra $900 in wages to open on Australia Day.
Jacki O'Hara, general manager of The Peasant's Table in Mt Hawthorn, said she would struggle to break even when she opened for breakfast and lunch on Monday.
She said she would do it as a service to her loyal customers, but would close at 5pm before the usual dinner trade because it would cost her too much money to stay open.
Ms O'Hara said penalty rates - almost $50 an hour for her staff - were outdated in the era of fly-in, fly-out and shift work.
She urged the Australian Productivity Commission to consider the impact of weekend and public holiday penalties on small-business owners in its workplace review.
A discussion paper also raises the prospect of reducing weekend and other penalty rates, potentially replacing them with time off in lieu.
But Ms O'Hara believes a flat rate around the clock would be easier to administer and for operations.
"As a business owner, you can't just open and close when you think you will make money, because you provide a service to your customers," she said.
"I will be happy if I break even on Monday. Last year, trade was dead on Australia Day."
UnionsWA has said it will fight to maintain penalty rates while Colin Barnett said they should be maintained but made "more realistic".
"I support penalty rates," the Premier said. "If people are working at night or over weekends, they should be paid more on an hourly basis, but that should be fair.
"When you get penalty rates that are up to three times the normal hourly rate, that is stopping employment in the hospitality and tourism industries," Mr Barnett said.
"We are losing jobs we would otherwise have, and I think it's unfair to those other people who maybe work Monday to Friday in normal hours."
He said the review would be closely watched by the State Government. It is considering changing awards for unincorporated small businesses, which remain in the State industrial relations jurisdiction.
Mr Barnett said big businesses had negotiated lower penalty rates with unions.
Australian Hotels Association chief executive Bradley Woods said he would fight for lower penalties.
"Every long weekend owners of hotels, pubs, small bars and restaurants are faced with a decision to open or not due to out-dated penalty rates which raise costs for consumers," he said.

If the business owner is truly concern with serving his loyal customers, then she could pledge only to break even and to donate any profits to her employees.
If employees have to work on statutory holidays, then they deserve to pay alot more to give up the holiday enjoyed by most people.
 

The_Hypocrite

Alfrescian (Inf)
Asset
https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/national/a/26075933/abbott-warms-to-penalty-rate-changes/

[h=1]Abbott warms to penalty rate changes[/h] By Paul Osborne, AAP Senior Political Writer January 23, 2015, 1:16 pm Share



Penalty rates are discouraging businesses from putting on more workers and a better "balance" is needed, Prime Minister Tony Abbott says.
His comments came as the Productivity Commission began an inquiry into workplace laws, with penalty rates, the minimum wage and unfair dismissal among the issues being reviewed.
Mr Abbott said he would like to change workplace laws, starting with the policies he took to the 2013 election: restoring the construction watchdog and toughening penalties for corruption.
But he said he might seek a "broader mandate" at the 2016 election for other changes, naming penalty rates as a target.
Mr Abbott said many businesses such as hotels and bottle shops no longer opened on holidays and at weekends because of the cost of paying penalty rates.
"I'm a high-paid worker and the last thing I want to do is begrudge comparatively low-paid workers their money, but in the end there's a balance that's got to be struck here and my preference will always be in favour of more jobs," he told Macquarie radio on Friday.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said the inquiry was a "new front in the war against fairness", lumping the potential changes into the same political basket as the government's unpopular Medicare overhaul, pension cuts and university fee hikes.
"We can't cut our wages to a brighter future in Australia," Mr Shorten said.
Amid voter and coalition MP concern about the prime minister's leadership, Mr Shorten said it was "Tony Abbott's last roll of the dice".
"The one thing which unites the Abbott Liberal-National government is an attack on working conditions," he said.
Mr Abbott said Mr Shorten, a former Australian Workers Union leader, was "living in the past like an industrial dinosaur".
Productivity Commission chairman Peter Harris said he hoped for a debate based on facts and research.
"I'd like to emphasise that the commission is open-minded, and our approach will be evidence-based and impartial," he said.
ACTU president Ged Kearney said the inquiry was another attack on rights at work.
"There is no doubt the Abbott government initiated the inquiry as a tool to pursue its obsession with workplace relations and issues like penalty rates and individual contracts," she said.
The ACTU wants the government to delay four workplace bills until the inquiry, and other reviews, are concluded.
Council of Small Business chief Peter Strong told AAP it was up to the government to ensure any changes, such as varying penalty rates or overhauling unfair dismissal laws, were practical.
"We have to talk about penalty rates and unfair dismissal, but if the extremists in the Liberal party match up against the extremists in the Labor party, then it's all over," Mr Strong said.
Australian Retailers Association chief Russell Zimmerman said wage inflexibility was killing the sector's ability to compete in the global market.
Australian Industry Group spokesman Stephen Smith said: "Workplace relations reform shouldn't be a dirty word."
 
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