JOHN BRUMBY'S attack on public sector workers is a portent of the policies we can expect from federal Labor leader Kevin Rudd should he win government. Brumby, like Rudd, has modelled himself as an economic conservative.

Similarly, NSW Premier Morris Iemma is hell-bent on preserving the state's AAA credit rating at all costs.

Like Brumby, he wants a cap on all public sector pay rises and, also, wants to offload key public infrastructure from the state's budget.

He is canvassing plans to privatise retail electricity and Sydney ferries. This is market capitalism gone mad-and we can expect more of the same from Rudd.

The Victorian nurses defied orders from the IR Commission, the Federal Court as well as the WorkChoices legislation.

This is how to fight for our rights, conditions and public services-and we will need more of the same under a federal Labor government.

Tom Barnes