regionalguy,
the concept of casual workers isn't necessarily a problem providing there is enforceable legislation in place to prevent abuse of a system that was originally sold, [as a concept by the business community] as a way for them to manage peaks and troughs in the business cycle.
Prior to howard changing the rules casuals had to be offered full time positions if there casual employment extended beyond 12 months.
What we are seeing know is business moving vast swathes of their workforce to these cheaper arrangements. Arrangements that don't offer security of income, sick pay, holidays, etc, etc.
The net effect of this will be to create an underclass of working poor who will NEVER be able to effectively participate in our society such as we see in the United States.
I often catch the local buses in LA to get around. There are people living in sheet plastic shanty towns under almost EVERY freeway underpass. This is the wealthiest country in the world, not downtown Mumbai or Calcutta.
Despite what you claim the march to casualisation IS NOT inevitable.
THE FIX IS TO ELECT A GOVERNMENT WITH SOME SOCIAL CONSCIENCE.