"imagine the lift to national productivity if sick leave could somehow exclude the "aussie sickie" ... it could fund a bewildering array of social services "
Productivity gains are hardly about to be returned to the community to "fund a bewildering array of social services". I've paid attention over the past 20 yrs and one thing I've noticed is that our overlords have little interest in your trickle-down effect. What you are really talking about is a further weakening of employee conditions with resultant profit increases just another way to funnel wealth away from ordinary Australians.
