Australian Ethics?

The Australian Government's sweeping industrial relations changes are, predictably, causing a storm of criticism.
That fact doesn’t really concern a government which has the numbers to push this unpopular legislation through.
The big problem with ‘stable’ or full majority government is that it brings the bully tendencies to their highest form.
Not that John Howard’s Liberal Government, which seeks to strip workers of hard won and basic rights, is not fighting back.
Even before this bill has seen parliament, even before any opportunity to scrutinize it, the Government launched a massive ad campaign to sell it.
Now here, as history can testify, is a government which came to power pledging to enforce the most rigorous ethical standards.
Well the wheels fell off that promise early on when a number of ministers and parliamentary secretaries were dumped on various corruption issues.
So the bar was lowered while the rhetoric continued. But that, it is plain now, is all it is – rhetoric.
Respected media commentator, Michelle Grattan, (The Melbourne Age) reflects that: “The Government is behaving as though it is in the middle of an election campaign and the taxpayers' coffers actually belong to the Liberal and National parties. John Howard tries to say it's just about informing the public.” Article here
The massive advertising campaign, launched prematurely, to sell these industrial relations reforms is in itself scandalous.
Grattan also charges: “The revelation that about 60,000 booklets promoting the Government's industrial relations changes were pulped is embarrassing, mostly because it further highlights the Coalition's outrageous misuse of public money.”
This is government which can do pretty much as it pleases, and does. With total control of both federal houses of parliament, ethics is well down the list of considerations.This is also a government proposing to use its power to legislate new electoral laws which will serve to reduce the already tattered democratic process of the country.When any government starts to take the high ground on ethical behaviour it seems like the time to fear the worst.