Page 817 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 13 March 1991
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I met with relevant unions last week to reassure them of the Government's commitment to proper industrial processes, and as a result of that meeting it has been agreed that on a range of important employment issues the trade union movement and the Government will consult closely, and that an approach common to Territory owned corporations will be identified. At the same time, it was recognised that individually owned Territory corporations will continue to consult with relevant unions on a range of other matters that are more appropriately dealt with at that level.
Again, on an issue which is close to the hearts of both the Government and the union movement, a systematic and cooperative approach has been established in order to address important industrial relations issues. Overall, the Government has found that the responsible elements of the ACT trade union movement have taken a constructive attitude to change and reform, and have, at the same time, properly and fully represented the interests of their members.
Given the many major reforms that are taking place in our transition to being a more financially independent Territory, the level of industrial disputation in the ACT has not been significant, and I believe that this reflects our thoughtful approach to these issues and a sensitive arrangement with the unions on the part of the Government.
Finally, Mr Speaker, I note that in Mr Berry's remarks on this motion he raised the question of the Government's industrial relations approach in relation to the South Curtin Primary School site. On this point I can only remind him that the union movement itself argued long and hard before the Industrial Relations Commission that the action at that site was not industrial in nature. Is he now claiming that it was an industrial action? Or is he simply happy to let the passage of time remove from people's memories this particular aspect of those events? The Government simply does not accept Mr Berry's motion. It does not have any basis in fact. It is a figment of his fertile imagination, poorly presented. As I noted before, nobody else on his side of the house is even going to defend him, and I think that speaks for itself.
MR DUBY (Minister for Finance and Urban Services) (11.05): Mr Speaker, I think the very fact that there is only one speaker from the Opposition indicates that this is really a furphy of a private members' business matter. For the Opposition to allege something which is quite serious, namely, that this Government is unable to provide competent industrial relations management in the ACT, and then to find that it cannot produce the facts in speeches to support that assertion, I think indicates just how futile that accusation is.
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