Page 4964 - Week 17 - Tuesday, 11 December 1990
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One of the things that we have to look to in assessing the Government's position on these sorts of things is its industrial relations policy. I note that the Alliance Government employment policy lacks any detail on the issue of industrial relations, but I am told that that is up for redrafting. It was particularly relevant for redrafting when the Opposition asked for a copy of the one-page document on employment. I suggest that any government that sets out to set up Territory owned corporations and has put together such a poor document on the issue of industrial relations is not capable of anything positive in the area doing of micro-economic reform and, in particular, with this sort of corporatisation.
It has certainly proved the absence of an understanding of industrial relations. It has yet to come to an agreement on some very important issues in the industrial relations field. There are, of course, some outstanding issues which have yet to be sorted out with the trade unions. What the Government seems to be doing is heading into a confrontation situation with unions as it moves towards these Territory owned corporations.
One of the most interesting areas, of course, has been the union position which required that existing terms and conditions - award and non-award - continue to apply to employment in the Territory owned corporations. The Government has been unwilling to come out and give a total commitment to that. Of course, while they do that there has to be some doubt about their commitment to the workers who are going to be involved with those corporations in the future. It is all right to say that these matters will be negotiated some time in the future and that the workers will be all right with this Government. There will not be too many of them who would believe you. The Government is incapable of giving an unequivocal commitment to the unions in relation to that request; that is, that existing terms and conditions of employment - award and non-award - should - - -
Mr Kaine: We have given it to the trade unions in writing.
MR BERRY: Well, that is not the information that has been - - -
Mr Kaine: I will table the document in a minute.
MR BERRY: It would be very nice of you to do that.
MR SPEAKER: Order!
Mr Kaine: I would suggest that you ask the trade unions, because we have already given them - - -
MR SPEAKER: Order, Chief Minister, please!
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