Have you heard?

So much is happening. Here is a small sample of things that need our attention... Yell_megaphone_SX

1. CRE under threat

The Christian Religious Education program (CRE) in schools in Victoria is being criticised. The Humanists have made a complaint to the Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission - a hearing will be held at VCAT later in the year.
A speech by the CEO of Access Ministries is the latest matter to be criticised... read report.
A poll on The Age (at this link) has had more than 31,000 and is currently 50% each way for having religion taught in schools!

2. Cost of carbon tax - on jobs, houses and energy

The Gillard government's proposed 'carbon tax' could mean a large number of mining jobs are lost -
Miners say 23,000 jobs at risk - The Australian - May 16, 2011.
"MINING companies have warned Julia Gillard the design of the carbon tax threatens the resources boom and could cut more than 23,500 jobs this decade.
The Minerals Council of Australia says the carbon pricing scheme's design could cost the industry $30 billion to 2020, "threatening an investment pipeline worth $140bn and directly contradicting the government's own strategy of maximising the opportunities of the Asian Century"...."

Housing is also tipped to rise, due to the 'carbon price' on bricks, steel and other building materials.
The Housing Industry Association says a new home could cost $6,000 more - "adding an extra $43 per month to the family mortgage repayments" and "adding a further $12,800 to the total repayments over a 25 year loan". They have called for 'compensation' in any scheme.
Brickworks say it will hurt house prices and investment.

Energy prices will also rise even more with a 'price on carbon:
Carbon tax to hurt more than ETS, warns energy sector, The Australian, 16/5/2011.

3. Equal pay for equal work?

The full bench of the Fair Work Australia Tribunal has released a decision which finds that many female employees are paid less - the case involves the Australian Services Union. Now they will take more submissions about how much more the 150,000 employees should be paid.
Read media report.

4. Coalition ahead of Labor

The latest polls show that the Liberal/National Coalition are leading Labor by 56-44 on the two-party preferred vote. Read report - click here.
Also, for "the first time, Mr Abbott has a higher approval rating than Ms Gillard, whose support has hit a personal low.

Tony Abbott claims that is because Julia Gillard is not listening to the people!