Read the full text of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass with the original illustrations by John Tenniel.

Discovered via Slave Labor Graphics (publishers of the new comic based on Alice in Wonderland).

Bow to the glory of public domain.

I read my contract a couple of days ago. I have to admit it's the first time I've read it in over a year. Specifically I was searching for information on an extra entitlement my employer provides.

While in there I read the whole thing and took note of other entitlements beyond the monthly bank transfer.

I get sick leave, Victorian public holidays, annual leave. I would expect that. However, I get a good deal of other extras that I personally wouldn't expect from an employee but now I've seen them, will look for them in future contracts. Paid (and unpaid) paternity leave, extensions to conditions based on the length of employment, various company paid insurance policies.

I'm on an individual contract. I'm not covered by any award and I'm not in a union. My company employs more than 100 people.

Yesterday I saw many thousands of very loud people walk through the city complaining about the new industrial relations laws.

John Howard said today [The Age] that he thinks the majority of those not at the protests yesterday think that the new laws are good for Australia. That the protests fell on deaf ears.

Personally, looking at the list of entitlements in my contract, I can't help but think of the long distant future when one day I need to read a new contract, either from this employer or a new one, and the list of entitlements I'll now need to check for, instead of expecting them to be there.

I'm sure there are many thousands like me who were at work doing their jobs when others were protesting.

I promise you, we're not all deaf.