Get the IR balance truly right

Comments on Peter Reith “With unions flexing muscles, Libs must fight back”, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/with-unions-flexing-muscles-libs-must-fight-back/story-e6frg6zo-1226010964144

Clearly Howard era's Work Choices had its own problems, as reflected in Rudd's historical win of the 2007 election. Equally, there are problems of over corrections with Gillard' new IR laws.

There should be a balance between flexibility, individual agreements, collective agreements, decent conditions and adequate protections, as well as appropriate union roles.

It is pity and regrettable that both major political parties tend to go into one of the two extremes and not be able to get the balance right. The main reasons for that to have been the case include that each party has not tried to govern for the whole nation, but instead they all become a particular special interest group.

The best strategy for them and especially the opposition coalition is to move to the centre and get the balance right and articulate in that way.

The government could also initiatives some self correction to get the balance right to avoid potential coalition attacks.