Dick Davies Writes...
"...the human fabric of the workplace precedes in importance that of technology!"
Dick Davies prods us to think about management, independence and motivation. Click here.
Sham Contract Issues
ICA supports the prevention of sham contracts. We monitor what's happening with them:
Successful FWO prosecution (Dec 2009)
Info from Fair Work Ombudsman (July 2009)
First sham contract prosecution: ICA summary
Business Spectator article
Read the debate
Work Safety Issues
There is a series of major developments occurring in the realm of work safety.
National Harmonization
See here for a summary and understanding of the proposed harmonized laws.
See here for ICA's submission to the draft National OHS laws.
Good/Bad Contracts
We're monitoring contracts in general and promoting good contracts in particular. For example:
One of the worst contracts we've seen
But a positive development from government
Ken Phillips comments
And some interesting discussions
What's Happening with Super?
ICA is monitoring super developments, particularly as they affect SMSFs.
Easier Super Admin
Peter Strong submission
Govt super clearing house (through Medicare)
Is Super Safe?
Business Spectator explains attacks on SMSFs
Big super in trouble (USA) Mark I
Big super in trouble (USA) Mark II
USA super funds corruption
Australian Super Review
Profile of Australian super funds
Government review: overview
Government review: 24-page report
History Repeats
Here's an interesting quotation from the history books! Images of the USA today?
'The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be filled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome be bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance'
Cicero---55 BC
ICA Small Business Videos
During 2009, ICA made a series of videos on small business issues. The collection appears below.
Introduction
7m 45s
Click here for video
'Business in Crisis'
5m 24s
Click here for video
Managing relationships when you are in business for yourself
6m 00s
Click here for video
The early years
4m 54s
Click here for video
Basic Business Errors
10m 01s
Click here for video
Managing Debt
7m 04s
Click here for video
Rocket Science
3m 04s
Click here for video
Surviving the Hard Times
5m 17s
Click here for video
Research and Marketing
5m 35s
Click here for video
Crash Without Cash
8m 54s
Click here for video
Building Relationships
ICA Summit 2009
At our very successful Summit on 12 November, we brought together a unique group of presenters from small and big business, government, academia and the research arena. Conference Presentations are here.
... Unquote
Illegal workers/Phoenix companies
Two ICA members' tell their stories
ATO information on reporting suspect activity.
The Pessimists' Economic Views
(Posted January 2010)
We've brought together some pessimistic views about economics and likely economic trends in 2010:
Ken Phillips's summary
The Atlantic
Pivot Capital
New York Times
Business Spectator
Wall Street Journal
Investors Insight
Reuters
The Telegraph
New York TImes




























Ken Phillips' Articles

Ken Phillips is co-founder and Executive Director of Independent Contractors of Australia. He is an independent contractor operating as his own business, as a researcher, commentator and lobbyist, and consultant on workplace management issues.

Amongst his many activities, Ken is a published authority on independent contractor and self-employment issues and directs research on related commercial and trade practices issues.

Author of Independence and the Death of Employment, Ken writes frequently for the op. ed. pages of many of Australia's major dailies and for many online forums - always with his trademark 'take' that places him outside normal approaches to business and employment matters. In 2009, he began writing articles for the leading business online publication Business Spectator, most of which have a distinct small business or self-employment slant.

Your Thoughts

We're keen to hear what you think of Ken's articles. If you'd like to make a contribution, please send us an email here.

 The articles gathered here are broadly grouped by topic and then by date.

Sham Contracts
Taking the con out of contractorOctober 2009
Integrity of Contract
The law is failing small contractorsSeptember 2009
Taxation (including PSI, ATO, welfare, etc)
Sherry's swipe at self-employed is risky businessMarch 2010
Tax rights under siegeDecember 2009
Claw-back by stealthMay 2009
A more understanding ATOMay 2009
The personal is prosecutableMarch 2009
Politics and unions
A new kind of union muscleJune 2009
Getting a fair deal for SMEsApril 2009
Subbie subversionMarch 2009
Beware union 'super cops'March 2009
Construction industry
Don't dump the ABCC January 2010
Japanese lesson April 2009
Back to the bad old daysApril 2009
OHS and work safety
Kirk: A detailed assessmentFebruary 2010
Kirk's legal revolutionFebruary 2010
The direct path to a safer workplaceSeptember 2009
High Court challenge to NSW OHS lawsAugust 2009
The OHS battle is wonMay 2009
Self-employed and economics
Construction on shaky groundDecember 2009
What the data's missing on SMEsDecember 2009
SMSFs under attackAugust 2009
A big idea for small businessAugust 2009
A continental shift for IRJune 2009
Economics and policy
Comprehending global debtFebruary 2010
Has China peaked too soon?January 2010
The united states of debtAugust 2009
The hidden dip in employment August 2009
Cursed by demographicsAugust 2009