Howard's way: WorkChoices, welfare reform and the working wounded

The aim of this paper is to investigate Work Choices, the Welfare to Work reforms and the nexus between the two pieces of legislation, as well as considering the consequential possibilities that are suggested. We argue that Work Choices is in effect a shotgun levelled at the head of workers, whilst welfare reform is a similarly heavy-handed disciplinary mechanism. In tandem, these disciplinary regimes create the conditions of possibility for the exploitation of workers, the unemployed, the disabled and sole parents – in short, a large proportion of the Australian population.