Summary
A spin off from the Fair Go For Billionaires campaign, this satirical commercial advocates the employment of overseas 457 visa workers at the expense of local workers. Sitting in his executive office, fictional CEO Larry Pines tells the viewer that he has a choice to make. Holding a couple of manila folders representing Australian workers, he tells us he can employ this many workers, or lunging at stack of folders representing foreign workers, he can enthusiastically employ far more foreign workers. That’s because foreign works don’t want or know about all the added benefits, legally required things like sick leave, health & safety and overtime. “More jobs for everybody”, with his hand on the foreign stack, “Well, for them.”
The skit ends with Pines waving an Australian flag, a violin player plays a melancholy tune, “Don’t you think your country deserves it?” Demonstrating his callousness to workers, he tells the violin player to shut up.
This is followed by text on black ‘Help us stop Larry and his kind.’ The final title card is ‘The Mining Boom is Australia’s Boom. Let’s spread it around.’
Fair Go For Billionaires was a CFMEU – Mining & Energy Division campaign opposing Opposition Leader Tony Abbott’s promise to repeal the new Resources Tax, thereby diverting tax dollars intended for public purposes back to rich and powerful mining companies.
Special Notes/Achievements
Manic Studios was established for the trade union movement with the goal of producing satirical films and videos for union campaigns. Charles Firth, an Australian comedian and member of the famed The Chaser satirical comedy show, was the company’s creative director.
Author: J Bird, 2023