Page 5129 - Week 16 - Wednesday, 27 November 1991
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most of our trade unionists and most of the members of our other organisations - business organisations - that are also covered by this amendment are, on the whole, very responsible people. So, I would urge members to support this particular amendment.
MR BERRY (Minister for Health and Minister for Sport) (5.59): A couple of things have been said on ideological grounds that I really should respond to. First of all, I deal with the notion of compulsory unionism. Within the meaning of the Federal Act, which most members agree covers most areas of employment within the ACT, there is no provision for compulsory unionism. For Liberal members to continue to talk about their opposition to compulsory unionism in the context of this amendment is somewhat misleading.
There are very good reasons for belonging to a trade union. I hear the Liberals say that they are not opposed to unions, but really what they want to do is say, "Yes, you can belong to a union. Just sit there and we will give you a bit of a pat on the head, but do not do anything. We do not want you to look after your members' rights. We do not want you to improve your bargaining position. We do not want you to improve your bargaining strength, because you will do better in industry and do better out of negotiations". Of course, one thing that we also should remember is that the trade union movement is the basis of the Labor Party, the mortal enemy of the Liberal Party. So, we have to consider all of those aspects when we listen to the Liberals arguing about their support for trade unions.
Their position is: "Yes, we do not mind trade unions. You just sit there quietly, and be a nice little trade unionist, and we will hand it out to you when we think you are entitled to it. But do not you improve your bargaining position; do not you improve your bargaining strength, because you might do well, and we do not want that to happen - and, worst of all, you might be a supporter of the Labor Party. That is even worse, because they are even worse than you trade unionists". That is the position according to the Liberal Party.
All those issues aside, we have to then go to what Mr Humphries said. He said that he could not think of a good reason that was put today why people ought to be involved in trade unions. There are very good reasons. There are all of the award conditions that have been won by unions over the years, by way of negotiations, in some cases by industrial strength, and often by conciliation and arbitration. But it has always been the unions that have been at the forefront of establishing not only wages and working conditions for workers in this country but also social conditions. All those issues ought not to be forgotten. There are significant benefits from belonging to a union.
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