Mick Chamberlain, Dapto

Here is a hypothetical to contemplate in regard to the amalgamation between the CFMEU and the MUA. As most know Patrick are now owned by Brookfield/Multiplex.

Some years ago the Federal Government introduced what is known as the Maritime Security Legislation - this legislation was introduced under guise of "National Security" but in reality is used to remove persons from waterfront employment. The MSIC card requires intrinsic background checks to be conducted every 12 months for persons employed within the Maritime Industry.

What is interesting about the MSIC legislation is that both Patrick and DP World own the company that is responsible for conducting the background checks and applications made by those who need to renew their MSIC cards. The company is known as One Stop. These cards come at a cost of $250. Since Brookfield/Multiplex have since purchased Patrick this would mean that by default they would have also purchased a share in One Stop.

I would not be surprised that in the coming months post amalgamation there is a Building and Construction Identity Card introduced for the building industry and that the ABCC is extended to cover the Stevedoring Industry.

At $250 an application there is some serious money to be made by Brookfield and respective construction companies and from all those who require access to building sites - namely contractors. This is also essentially the means to weed from the building industry those who the employers determine as undesirables.

There is a reason as to why the members of the CFMEU are not being afforded the right to vote for amalgamation and that is because they have the most to lose whilst the employer has the most to gain. The Turnbull Government and the construction companies must be laughing themselves silly.  

Sean Ambrose, Former MUA delegate, Port Botany

Last week, the Australian Bureau of Statistics released the latest Retail Sales data for August.

The data shows that Australia has experienced its second consecutive negative month and it was the largest contraction since 2012. The sharp decline in retail sales is no surprise given that wages growth is flat and in some sectors (retail and hospitality) employers are cutting weekend penalty rates.

At the same time, household consumption has been maintained by record levels of household debt, exposing families to bankruptcy risk should interest rates rise.  Further, energy companies are gouging prices to record huge profit spikes, which is exacerbating the real wages cuts.

The decline in retail sales suggests that households are finally responding to this array of negative data.

Don Kelly, Kanahooka  

Given that the PM shut down debate in the Party room about the National Energy Guarantee (Telegraph ‘Abbott debate distress’) I’m now beginning to consider this government leadership team is taking the country towards Stalinism.

All liberal governments - before this one - promoted the party as being a broad church where a ‘contest of ideas’ were always encouraged. The position has changed given -  principally - the PM, on a whim, will now shut down a healthy debate because it is inimical to, and not in the best interests of, his own ideologue.

D J Preece, Balgownie