Since mid-February our organisation, Independent Contractors Australia (ICA), has been following the sham-contracting inquiry being conducted by the powerful construction industry watchdog, the Australian Building and Construction Commission. We, along with others, have been highly critical of the inquiry process and the accompanying discussion paper. But recent events demonstrate that the ABCC inquiry is just one part of a much wider campaign attacking the right of Australians to be their own boss, to be self-employed. The issues at stake cut to the very heart of the nature of the society we choose to have and the nature of our economy.…