poor teddy, page-14

garryt.

I live in Victoria and I can remember very well how despondent I, and many others, were during the Kirner period as Premier (and to some degree during the latter period of Cain's reign). The recent large pay rise given to teachers in Vic by the current Labor Government sends shivers down my spine. It is very reminiscent of the Cain/Kirner approach to Industrial Relations of 'Give them what they want and keep them happy'. Until this recent pay rise I sincerely thought that the State Labor Party had learnt its lesson from the Cain/Kirner years of financial mismanagement.

But time and the influx of money from the GST, Stamp Duty, lack of an effective opposition etc etc has made the State Government lethargic and unwilling to challenge union power. I wonder which union will follow in the footsteps of the Teachers' Union?

Whilst I was never a Kennet lover, Victoria, at that time, desperately needed someone with his philosophy of 'getting things done'.