A fair umpire !

Kevin Rudd must be worried that his options are shrinking. Family First Senator Steve Fielding is a rare breed of politician - one who says what he means and has the resolve to cast an unpopular vote.

The " Alcopops " fiasco was a case in point. The government jumped on a media scare story and looked to be doing something by installing a tax grab. It did nothing to reduce binge drinking and Fielding rightly surmised that part of the problem was the nexus between alcohol and sport which was sending the wrong message to young people.

Both the government and the opposition shied away from action - and Fielding held his ground and sent Rudd a very strong message.

Now we have the repeal of " Work Choice " and the proposed government replacement set for a vote.

The voters clearly indicated that they didn't want Work Choice at the last election, but they also did not vote in a union takeover of industrial relations - a move back to the bad old days when unions ruled the roost.

Julia Gillard refuses to move on the definition of " small business " and the legislation is clearly the promised reward for union help in winning the election.

There is absolutely no justice in allowing union thugs to walk into any business and demand to see the books, harass workers into joining a union and generally seek to intimidate management.

Fielding has indicated that changes will be necessary if the bill is to pass - and after the Alcopops legislation was struck down - Rudd now has good reason to think long and hard because a fair umpire is about to blow the whistle - and perhaps hand out a red card !