THERE'S a new phrase entering the political lexicon: "sensible centre". It's Tony Abbott's new favourite saying.

Apparently, the "pendulum" has "swung too far" away from the "sensible centre".

What I'd like to ask Abbott is this: Who is being paid too much? What conditions of which workers do you think overly generous?

What would you like to cut first? Penalty rates? Overtime? Annual leave entitlements?

Of course, Abbott will never tell, at least not before the election. The Liberals learnt that the hard way. There's been a lot of talk this week about the union movement's plans for a fighting fund for the next election. Unions are preparing to fight hard because there is so much at stake.

As ACTU secretary Dave Oliver said this week: "We are talking about security of workers' entitlements. "We're talking about secure jobs. We're talking about proper industry policy, such as in the automotive industry. All these things are happening and we are supportive of all of that."

And when you have an opposition which has started to come out of the closet on its plans to rip away at workers' rights it is, of course, natural for unions - the guardians of such rights - to defend our members.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/tonys-sensible-centre-is-a-chocolate-wrapped-deceit/story-fndo317g-1226431787432