It sorely tests my willingness to believe when I hear Malcolm Turnbull, Michaelia Cash and now Tony Abbott claim that they wish to give workers a fair deal. Their expressions of compassion for “lowly-paid” and “decent” workers do not quite align with their actions since winning government. They were quite happy to sign off on the 2014 budget which was blatantly skewed against low income workers. Furthermore, Cash has already signalled her preference for standardised weekend penalty rates arguing this could increase employment.

It was the union movement that fought for and obtained annual leave, the eight-hour day and the minimum wage. It was the Coalition that opposed Medicare and superannuation. Those found culpable of corruption and abuse of power must be brought to account, in both the union and the corporate sector. This can be achieved without undermining an entire movement that has so often been a powerful force for the good.

Frank Carroll

For a government weighed down by ‘gaffes and blunders’ and an ‘inability to cement its popularity with the electorate’, according to the Courier Mail’s 4 January editorial, recent figures would suggest that after almost a year in office the Palaszczuk government has done comparatively well.

The Newspoll released on Christmas Eve showed that not only was the Premier leading Lawrence Springborg by a country mile but that after almost a year in office the ALP leads the opposition 52-48 percentage points on a two-party-preferred basis. Palaszczuk’s “de-Newmanisation” program was essential after the dehumanising policies of Campbell Newman.

Newman’s record on unemployment was hardly more impressive with unemployment levels peaking at 7 per cent. The latest December figures showed Queensland’s unemployment rate to be at 5.9%, the second lowest of all the states.

There’s always much to do but with increased expenditure on education and health the Palaszczuk government is moving in the right direction.

Frank Carroll