Page 5118 - Week 16 - Wednesday, 27 November 1991
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MR TEMPORARY DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Berry, I think the point really is this: The amendment that has been proposed refers to the issue of unionism and compulsory or non-compulsory membership of unions, and I believe that it is appropriate for Mr Stevenson to comment on that as well as issues related to the matter that you have just raised.
MR STEVENSON: Thank you, Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker. I think it should be said that you were right. Prior to Mr Berry giving his full indication as to what his point of order was, it was obvious what it was. He said that you were not that good; but in that case, indeed, you were.
So, what we talk about is unions. We look at whether or not people should be forced to join a union. Actually, I find it quite amazing that, when I am using the word "union", someone in the Labor Party would take a point of order and say that I should not be talking about unions. I well understand that they would rather talk about the law and the proscription. But they would not like to hear other people talk about whether or not one should be forced into joining a union.
As I was saying, Mr Connolly says that massive consultation with unions and employer groups would be necessary before such an amendment was introduced. I think it is rather remarkable that the Labor Party suggests that we should have massive consultation on this matter and yet practically no consultation on the matter of the people of Canberra understanding what this particular legislation is about. This particular clause is something that Mr Connolly says people all over Canberra know about. I suggest that the majority of people - - -
MR TEMPORARY DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, Mr Stevenson! Members, if you would like to caucus, could you please caucus off the floor of the house. It is very difficult to follow the debate.
MR STEVENSON: Whatever they are deciding, as they nearly have a quorum, I am sure it will happen. Mr Connolly talks about massive consultation on this specific clause. As I said, most people in Canberra - although we have not surveyed it - do not for a second, I believe, know that there is even a Bill before the Assembly and that we are debating this. Yet he suggests that this particular clause is something that is known by people all over Canberra. That is an absolute absurdity.
What we need to do is support one of the first genuine propositions given to us today. I am referring to the idea that workers - and certainly there are a lot of them about, even though the Labor Party has not done much for them and there are still many unemployed - need to be given the right to join or not join a union as they choose; not as the Labor Party chooses, not as unionists choose, not as other people in the community choose, but as individuals themselves choose.
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