Globalisation: adviser warns Howard of voter backlash

Sydney Morning Herald, August, 2007

JOHN HOWARD's former chief of staff has issued a blunt warning of a US-style voter backlash against the Federal Government, driven by union-stoked fears about globalisation.

... Arthur Sinodinos told a gathering of industry chieftains in Canberra yesterday that ... Australians were increasingly worried about their prospects in the global economy ...

"There is no doubt that globalisation is putting real political pressure on the system today," he said ...

"The debate we're having in Australia today - if you strip away the headline issues of housing, cost of living and the like [and] the role of Work Choices - they're coming down to how people are coping in this more globalised workplace, what security or insecurity they feel in the workplace and how sensitive they are to even small changes in their particular circumstances. They feel more at risk."

Mr Sinodinos said the main reason for the loss of Republican seats during the US mid-term congressional election was not a backlash against the President, George Bush, or the invasion of Iraq, but a highly successful fear campaign run by the trade unions about job losses resulting from globalisation ...

More: SMH

Amen to that! Although one wonders if Mr Rudd's position is any better. The ALP did say it would "explore" the idea of opening our gates to Pacific migrants.