Although Australia still has many industrial relations issues to address it to the credit of both business and labor that we came through the GFC and its aftermath thus far relatively unscathed.
Sadly however, there are still many union leaders, employers and pollies walking around with the 'us and them' and 'win-lose' mindsets firmly entrenched in their thinking.
These mindsets offer us a chaotic and antagonistic future that will not deliver better medium or longer term outcomes.
Poorly remunerated people simply cannot afford to support dynamic and prosperous consumer based societies.
To some elements of our business community 'cutting costs' equates to reducing wages and conditions or shedding staff while increasing executive or managerial remuneration.
To some union leaders the game is all about their own power, glory and of course political gravy train.
Australian industrial relations needs a different paradigm that engages a greater number of businesses and workers cooperating to increase productivity through more effective workplace performance, more effective use of capital and with a special focus on bringing innovation to the marketplace.
That's what Tony Abbott and Julia Gillard should be addressing!
