Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Bill Shorten on Q&A on ABC1 on Monday night made a passing remark about newsagencies – that they could learn something about demarcation, as if we are doing something wrong in this area. He was talking about having done four workplace agreements at Alcoa and was lauding the flexibility of the Alcoa workforce demonstrated in the negotiation. Then, immediately after the Alcoa example about resolving demarcation issues, direct to camera, with a tone laden with accusation, he said:
There’s something for the old newsagencies and pharmacies and doctors to think about.
Watch Shorten say this for yourself. Click here. Go 47 minutes in. Do not have anything which could damage your TV in your hand.
Shorten’s comment grossly misrepresents newsagents. He joins News Limited columnist Mark Day to be in the running for the most ignorant comment about newsagency businesses this year.
Seriously Bill? Newsagents and protection and or demarcation? How? What evidence do you have? I am not aware of any at all. You need to apologise to newsagents. As a minister of the crown you should think before you speak and be certain of your facts.
Either Bill Shorten made an off the cuff comment without thinking, is misinformed or deliberately targeted us for some other reason.
Newsagents have been extremely flexible in agreeing terms and accepting change in their relationships with newspaper publishers, magazine distributors and government for many years.
John Howard used the ACCC to guide in complete deregulation of the newsagency channel in 1999. Bill should know that. Maybe he does and maybe he made his comment because it suited part of his constituency. I am not aware of any demarcation dispute. Maybe Bill could enlighten us.
Regardless of why Bill said what he said, he needs to be re-educated. One of us newsagents needs to kidnap Bill Shorten and hold him in one of our businesses for a month. Let him see what life is like on the inside. Let him live the life of a protected newsagent and see whether he can see demarcation disputes or issues in play.
I used to like Bill Shorten. I felt he was someone I could trust. After Q&A I see him as a politician who will say whatever he thinks he needs to say to get votes and or support.
Newsagency businesses in Australia are not protected whatsoever. Nor should we be.
Here are Bill’s contact details for newsagents who would like to educate him:
PO Box 6022
House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Tel: (02) 6277 7320
Fax: (02) 6273 4115
Twitter: @billshortenmp
Possibly Shorten and Day are related..?? The labor Gvt have never been a supporter of small business, and the FR clearly allows uninformed comment about our industry. They must of had lunch.
Baz
Do Not ring till after 9am the Buggers work Bankies hours. Says it all.
Alcoa is going to get a huge handout from the Union backed Govt as happened with Bluescope, so why would they not be flexible and play nice?
But as always it is a common thought that we still have the monopolies we did in the past, but as you say those days are long gone and the Govt knows this as they were the ones that killed them off to please Coles/Woolies, the same goes for chemists as most medicines can be bought at supermarkets now.
Suck it up guys as nothing will change, as always SME get the short shaft because we mean nothing to the unions.
I would suggest there is an alternative agenda in both comments from Shorten and Day. You can be sure that someone has been in the ear of the politicians. One of those lobbyist. Gradually the story will come out either that Coles/woolies should be allowed to take over the chemist business/all small business or something similar. Big business is after all about business. the only way that can achieve growth and satisfy shareholders is by gaining more business from small business. They do it by stealth. They lobby for longer trading hours under the guise of convenience and offering the public services. They have got the service stations, the hardware stores, the butchers, part of the newsagents and now they want the chemists and anyone else that is left. I wonder who will keep the bastards honest. The banks there are only 4 have little competition and big business have 3 and little competition. i wonder when harvey norman will be bought out by Woolies or Coles????
i watched the show on monday nite and nearly choked when i heard that from Shorten, what a w@#$er. i was hoping you would pick up on it for this blog. Shorten is only in it for himself, he learnt that trait from the union movement. the treatment of small business in australia is a disgrace, as is the political system that allows big business and our political leaders to snuggle up in bed and screw the little bloke. This attitude and total ignorance of reality really makes me made, just in case you cant tell. We need some mechanism to fight back, maybe all small business should put off an employee or two and see what that does for the unemployment rate and GDP, but two wrongs dont make a right. But not sure how we get them to sit up and take notice that all is not rosy at the bottom of the heap.
Yeah i do feel better now 🙂
I would say the supermarkets have everything newsagents offer except for maybe lotto but after the 5yr stay of execution finishes from the sale of NSW lotteries I’m sure you will see lotto at the supermarkets as well.
Ahhh!!! Luke, i suspect you have got it. that is what the push will be for. I am in WA and so was not aware of the changes been made over there. Big business now want Lotto. The lobbyist will be at work telling them how good it will be for the public. Oh and lets get the Chemists too.
just another example, we are also the ABC Centre for our city and paid good money to be the “sole” agent in town, for this money we were told we would get a lot of new releases exclusively for a period before everyone else and at a competitive price, but the majors cried foul and we have lost most of these unless of course when it suits them and they want the exclusives then this is OK.
Very short sighted remark, as a immature Minister he probably had to get advice from Mark Arbib, the Minister for Small Business who is been overwhelmed of late, counting numbers, making phone calls, what a very bad example of a Government we have had of late.
I think he was suppossed to say Government Owned Post Offices.
I agree about lobbying and also about the Lotto, it was a shot over the bow for Newsagents on behalf of who is paying the lobbyists. Take your pick.
Bill Shorten : Called an overseas CEO about Australian working conditions. Bill Shorten : Stated that shop assistants were paid $15 -$16 an hour. Bill Shorten : Made a passing remark about how newsagents could learn something about demarcation.
How could you trust this bloke.
Shoots his mouth off for his benefit.
He’s got the ‘steering wheel’ in the Labour Party and the vehicle is being driven by ‘crash test dummies’ until he is ready to drive it into the Lodge. As I have said before – God Help Us.
you kidnap him and keep him in your newsagency you re-educate him GOOD LUCK
I don’t see this as party political. Politicians on both sides are as ignorant as each other about small business and newsagents.
I agree Mark. I think politicians are so out of touch with what is really happening that they are misinformed, ignorant and uneducated.
I sadly agree with Newsagent comment about their abilities.
I am confused, why would Mr Shorten even mention Newsagents if it was not political?
I just read his work history / biography and would like to know what business experience Mr Shorten has apart from being a politician and working for the Govt his whole life?
What experience does he have of running a business – any size, being an actual employee – not a protected Govt. employee? What is his take on the ”protected AUstralia Post business model” and does he know what award wages are for retail assistants yet?
Im tired of big bullying businesses kicking newsagents and pharmacies too for that matter in the guts time after time. Sad thing is, if its said from politicians of people of influence – the general public start to think its true and that is dangerous when our leaders are misinformed and say things that are clearly wrong.
I think he is pushing some agenda here. With Mark Day’s comment – there is some plan afoot that us plebs – the working class – are not aware of yet.
Get the gloves on…
Leave the politics alone guys and concentrate on policies (our own businesses) We will never win with
pollies who don’t understand that to
undermine our industry is to undermine another 5,000 businesses plus approx
20,000 employees. The steel industry
is losing employees – the mining industry
is going to robotic workers – the education industry is in tatters (good young people finishing their degrees and NOT BEING PLACED) Will we keep going –
our country might be doing ok economically, but socially and morally we are almost bankrupt.
News Ltd has a hidden agenda and no-one
knows what it is???? One guess – no -one
will get any money back for the rounds that they purchased and the goodwill that
they paid.
Banks aren’t lending because they don’t
consider small business to be profitable enough and they have huge problems with
borrowing money from the European banks. Profit is king and greed is good.
Gordon Gecko is alive and well and living
in Oz.
Maybe we are all going to have to revert to
a more simplistic lifestyle – I’m darned if I
know the answer to all of this, but I think
I will go plant some tomatoes and lettuces
because the farming land is all being purchased by foreign countries who might
need our land to feed their people?
changing the topic slightly – went into local large supermarket monopoly on Monday. All current Woman’s Day that were delivered on Friday were being taken down by employee and topped!
Had a laugh – as newsagent next door had done the right thing.
Hopefully the distributors will wake up to the fact that we value mags as its one of our core products, the same cannot be said for supermarkets, 7 elevens etc where its seen as just another product in their store.
So Bill Shorten / Mark Day – how am I a protected species again?
lol, got my garden well underway June plus I can sew, bake and preserve. I also have a bike and a library card !
If things get tough here, no pollies will be able to “fix it” for us all, we will have to devise ways of living that are different from the past.
It is political because Mr Shorten made it so. He could easily address this if he wanted to and had a reason to.
simple…..we are protected because we DON’T give big $$$ to their campaigns.
June,
Unless foreign countries devise a way to detach the land from Australia I don’t think we have much to worry about in terms of food security.
Jarryd, I mean they will own the land and the food grown can be shipped to their
country e.g. China – silly boy!!!!!!
Then we would be in a similar position to
those countries with no arable land e.g.
some of the African countries.
Am I the only one who thinks like this?
Am I just being morbid.?
I think we live in the greatest country in the world and those of us like “h” who can
sew, knit, bake and garden need to teach
our children these things before we leave
the planet because I think we will need to
be self-sufficient, just to survive.
Oh that is soooooo dramatic!
Mark, I saw Bill Shorten too and I wanted to “slap him around” when he made that comment. I thought it was a deliberate dropping of some names – newsagencies
and chemists – I don’t think anything is an
“accident” with Mr Shorten.
Please don’t let me be on the planet if he
ever becomes PM and Mark Abib is his deputy.
Food security is a joke. The government doesn’t give a toss. Give it 10 to 20 years and you will struggle to find food on your shop shelves that is grown in australia.
As a farmer as well as a newsagent, I can tell you that there are not that many farmers out there that see farming to make a living as a long term proposition. Sure, there will be hobby farms, but large amounts of land will be turned over to alternative fuels, carbon sequestration and trees. Great for the environment, maybe, but personally I like to eat too.
Bill Shorten is a tosser who has no idea of the realities of life. Maybe he’d like to come live with me for a while and see what farming and small business is like. I happen to love both of my businesses, but they are by no means easy. He needs to wake up.
It is good to see people contribute, it shows how fired up people are about some of the issues of today, that are affecting us today and for many years to come.
I just cannot see a Politician make a statement like the one Bill Shorten made without being advised too.
Newsagent is right in my opinion, people believe its true if it comes out of mouths with people of influence. One must ask themselves why would he make those remarks?
June,
My point is that the land itself is in Australia. That land and any business conducted in association with it are subject to Australian law.
There is an article over on the ABC Drum from back in July that details the issue in relation to Australian sovereignty. http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/2784876.html
Again we shot ourselves in the foot by not concentrating.
Hundred percent behind u Mark. I’ve twitted and mailed Mr Shorten but don’t expect a reply. That would be too hard for him. However, if I’m proved wrong, count me in.
Mr Shorten may be busy for the next few days with urgent ALP business………
hnmmm, roll on an election…..
We all need to write, call and tweet Bill on this. If we don’t we invite the ignorant comment to stand as fact.
Surely this is good ammo for Neil Mitchell and Alan Jones, they both see this woeful GVT for what it is. A EM or fax should do the trick. Clearly they get responses !!!!
My letter to Bill
Everyone please write to him, its easy on his website, dont let the bastards get away with it
Mr Shorten,
I would like further clarification about your coments on Q&A on Monday night in relation to your reference to “demarcation” and “newsagents”.
Please outline what further demarcation issues you see as hindering the newsagency channel, or its employees and customers.
It would appear that you either have very little regard for family run small business and have no interest in finding out how they operate, or you have been very badly briefed by your staff on this matter, or is there some other agenda you are running that should have other SME owners concerned ?
As this sly dig at newsagnents was made on national televsion, I would expect that your clarification on this issue will also be made public in a similar way.
My family and I work extremely hard to make a living and have great staff that we treat more like family than employees. So it is not only my family that relies on our business being successful, but also our staff and their families.
It would also be interesting to find out your views on the government owned monoply, Australia Post, and what “demarcation” issues you see with that business. Australia Post has been operating outside its charter for decades now with full support form both sides of politics. Its very hard to imagine how a sewing machine or exercise bike could ever be difined as a postal related product!!!
The lack of support from all politicians for SME is a disgrace, and as a former union official you should hang your head in shame for condoning the practices of big business to squash the hopes and dreams of small business (including farmers) in this country.
The entire political system is so out of touch with what is happening to everyday Australians, it is no suprise we see the self centred imlosion we see being played out within our political system at the moment.
Just don’t be suprised by the lack of compassion of Australians for the fotrunes of our political leaders, its all been self inflicted.
Kind Regards
Nice Rick, thanks for encouraging me to write to Mr Shorterm.
The website was a great idea!
Go to http://billshorten.com.au/
and click on tab [send a message to Bill]
I agree June, tougher times are coming and old skills will need to be re-learned.
I have emailed Bill Shorten – the more the merrier.
We will never get a response from Shorten as they are so sensitive from getting most things wrong, including their own party politics…Yuk !
For what its worth, I faxed through to the above, and also e-mailed…
I dont expect anything – why would I… I used rick’s as a base (thanks) and tailored to meet my purpose. I did extend an offer to spnd a few days in my shoes…
For the record – Sent by snail mail.
22nd February 2012
Re: Q&A on ABC1
Dear Mr Shorten
I am writing a short note to you regarding your appearance on Q&A on ABC1 on Monday 20th February 2012. The area that led me to write to you was your off the cuff comment about “old newsagencies and pharmacies and doctors could learn something about demarcation”.
I urge you to clarify your statement, expand on the evidence that you have in regards to Newsagents that made you say that on Television. It was misleading and a misguided attempt to have a go at Newsagents, I ask you to make an apology to the people of Australia due to the inaccuracy of what you were alluding to.
The Newsagency Channel Business Community received a low blow from you without knowing our Industry, the challenges we are facing from Newspaper & Magazine Distributors, overheads such as Utilities and Rent rises to our small business’s. Despite these challenges most of the Newsagency Channel have started to diversify into other consumables due to a measly 25% commission on Newspaper & Magazine sales.
The Newsagency Channel are not receiving any help with the challenges we are facing from the Federal Government on the issues mentioned. The Shopping Centre Owners are overcharging in rental with annual increases, while Newsagents profit margins decline. The Big Corporations, for example are looking to and competing with all Small Business’s including Newsagents. The Newspaper Companies, News Ltd and Fairfax, hold Newsagents to ransom on home delivery of their products for a financial loss, News Ltd have not raised their price of the Daily Telegraph for over five years, however the cost of running a Newsagency have increased but profits have not.
Mr Shorten it is very important to understand the subject matter as in this case your inaccurate statement regarding Newsagents on Monday 20th February 2012. I ask you also how could you or why would you involve Newsagents during this segment when you are talking about ALCOA? A totally different Industry and a totally different workforce.
Mr Shorten it is important to Newsagents and Small Business’s to understand how Government Owned Australia Post Offices Operate. I would like to know why the Government is competing with Newsagents and other Small Business’s?
I would like to know also what demarcation issues Government Owned Australia Post Offices have and why it is illegally selling goods to the public which under its ACT does not allow? I would also like to know why Government Owned Australia Post Offices:- Do not open until 8:30am? Do not work on Public Holidays? Do not work on Weekends?
Mr Shorten are you aware that Shopping Centre Owners wont allow Small Business’s like Newsagents to operate before 8:30am or operate past 5:30pm? Shopping Centre Owners will charge more rent if we operate outside these hours. Newsagents are facing overwhelming challenges without your Governments support, we are being proactive, looking for new ways to attract traditional and new customers. It all comes down to a request to you, an apology to the Newsagency Channel and the hard working and long suffering business owners.
For proof of what I have written please visit http://www.newsagencyblog.com.au/ which has over 10,000 posts on the challenges the Newsagency Channel faces and what is being done to encourage change, by diversifying so we can be the best possible Newsagent for our community.
Okay Baz so let’s not try. We need to make our voice heard. See my Twitter post. Join Twitter. Join the army.
Sent Bill Shorten an email via his website, but apparently he doesnt respond unless you supply a phone number. So I replied to his automated reply that when he gave me his number I will give him mine.
Sigh. I’d had a response, similar in length to Derek’s, written in their own ‘contact us’ page. One key mis-hit, and it was all gone. Will have to try again.
Bugger.
Ooops, right topic this time, sorry.
Y&G
I heard you all the way down south when it happened, good on you for putting time in to do this.
The door was opened for the Newsagent Channel to have their say when Mr Shorten short sighted and inaccurate comment about Newsagents.
Done, albeit more hurriedly, but I think he’ll get the gist..
Bernard Keane at Crikey is a fan of Shorten.He parroted the “pharmacists and newsagents” line today here http://www.crikey.com.au/2012/03/06/wayne-versus-the-lizard-people-the-secret-history-of-illegitimate-power/
The second last paragraph.
Hi PM
If you read his background: Bernard Keane is Crikey’s Canberra correspondent. He writes on politics, media, and economics…
What else would you expect – someone who has NO IDEA about reality.
To write this: “Why do pharmacists and newsagents remain inviolate from competition policy?” – shows his ignorance…
I wrote to Shorten, but not surprise not reply… In saying that I also wrote to our memeber – little Wyatt Roy hoping some young blood could stir the pot a bit – again no reply…
Interesting. I emailed Keane about this just after Shorten did this.
I have raised this matter with the Editor of Crikey, seeking a clarification.
Hi Mark,
You may have done it a bit more subtly than me… here is what I sent through…
Dear Someone – anyone…
Why are you printing mistruths about my industry by someone whom is Crikey’s Canberra Correspondent, and writes on politics, media and economics… one would expect his facts to be right!
First we had Bill Shorten on ABC’s Q&A the other Monday immediately after citing an Alcoa example about resolving demarcation issues, looked directly to camera, with a tone laden with accusation and said: “There’s something for the old newsagencies and pharmacies and doctors to think about.”.
Any reasonable person, would/should or wit some basic investigation be able to clearly establish that the Newsagency Channel has been deregulated for many years (to its and the many small business owners detriments), is not protected in anyway shape form, has been forced to compete directly with our Coles and Woolworths duopoly and the government protected Australia Post which clearly operates way outside of its charter under government protection…
Apart from that what demarcation issues does a small business that employs 3-5 people have? – someone tell us…
Now we have your writer saying: ‘Why do pharmacists and newsagents remain inviolate from competition policy?’ – what does this mean… what product is that we have that other businesses cannot provide… Perhaps it could well be the paper deliveries… ah wait a minute, who would want it – but it’s a service…
Please, make factually correct statements – and stop hurting the small business owners who toil all day everyday (and perhaps if they are lucky close Good Friday and Xmas Day)… Perhaps your Canberra Correspondent may like to spend a week working in my business, to better understand the industry and he can make an informed opinion if I operate in an industry that is inviolate from competition policy…
Well said Peter!!
I have heard from Bernard and there will be a retraction in Crikey tomorrow.
Good work Mark.
Good work all –
Maybe I’m going blind (entirely possible), but I can’t find a retraction?
Sorry, yes, I need a guide dog….
yep in clarifications and cockups – there they put any correction. I’m happy with it.
Surprise, surprise.
No response from Shorten’s office, despite leaving all of my contact details.
Y&G I bet if we had 100 + newsagents on Twitter and pursuing Bill he would respond.
I’ve tweeted Bill Shorten (BS) on many occasions on several issues, he does not respond. His twitter account is in send press release only mode.