So you can do more in four days a week

than you can in five? You can also prevent the sexual abuse of children in day care by having a "national" register of those working with children? Oh and do not forget that anyone under sixteen is too young to use social media but the day they turn sixteen they will be old enough to vote.

I have just been looking at some of the plans of the returned Federal government and some of the demands being made of it. It leaves me wondering where some of the insanity is coming from.

Unions apparently want a "four day" week even though our productivity levels are, to put it kindly, already low. Unemployment rose at the last count and what counts as "employed" is already a low bar to have to reach.  Many years ago I remember feeling acutely embarrassed when I realised unions pulled people out of work more often here than they did in the UK. 

Union membership was high back then - because it was effectively compulsory. It is now down to around fourteen percent of the workforce. Despite that the union movement is still powerful. It runs the Labor party.  The union movement is making moves for that four day week. They claim productivity will increase under such moves. I do not know how working a smaller number of hours will mean greater output. 

I do know that many people have no idea what to do with their "free time" even now. It is not going to solve the problem of the frantic dash to get the kids to day care and school and the after-school rush to get them to the activities where they will be "safe" and "supervised".

And then yes, there is the question of "are they safe?" Apparently this is not the case. We are being told we need a "national register" to keep them safe. I have no problems with a national register if it is used for that purpose and that purpose alone. It might prevent one or two who should not be anywhere near children entering the system but it won't stop those who have not yet been caught.  

The ban on under sixteens using social media will almost certainly come into effect. What it will mean is that everyone else who uses social media will find they are also being monitored. It will not stop determined young people from finding ways around the ban outside school and, as I said elsewhere, there is the magical day they turn sixteen and there will be pressure to allow them the vote just as the UK Prime Minister wants to allow young people to do. In a country like this where attendance at the ballot box is compulsory and the majority of people unthinkingly vote for the same party all their lives that could have disastrous consequences - unless of course you are a far left socialist.

All these things do not address the real issues of education, welfare, housing, health, migration and productivity. We will look as if we are doing things but will we? I suppose Communist China will be pleased by the result - apart from the four day week.