Page 533 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 19 May 1992
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they both want to settle it, though they have not been able to agree on the terms yet. I hope that, in the interests of the building and construction industry, of the workers who are on strike and of the employers, they are able to come to a settlement very shortly in order that industrial peace may prevail.
But I think it is important for us - and I include all of us here - not to beat our breasts too much, because there is the potential to aggravate the problem. In my experience, sometimes negotiations reach very sensitive stages and the outside influence of parties not associated with the dispute can be very unhelpful.
MR HUMPHRIES: I ask a supplementary question, Madam Speaker. The Minister made reference to prior warning or prior notice of this dispute. Could the Minister tell the Assembly what the nature of that prior warning was and how much in advance of the dispute's commencement the Government had warning?
MR BERRY: I am not talking about the Government; I am talking about the people who are running the building site. I mean people who have their finger - - -
Mr Humphries: That is the Government, isn't it?
MR BERRY: No, hang on a minute. If you want the answer to the question, just sit there quietly and I will give it to you - with both barrels and when the occasion arises. People who are associated with the building industry have a perception about the development of industrial disputation within the industry; in other words, you can sometimes see it coming. My understanding is that there has been, as I said, in the wind some concern about the likelihood of an industrial dispute. Whether they told me or not is beside the point. The issue - - -
Mr Humphries: They did not tell you, then?
MR BERRY: I said to you that whether they told me or not is beside the point. The dispute is between two industrial parties. As I have said before - - -
Mr Humphries: Of which you are one - your Government, if you are involved in this matter.
MR BERRY: The dispute is between two industrial parties. The Government will assist wherever it can to settle the dispute, but essentially the dispute has to be settled between the parties. If they cannot settle it themselves and they prevail upon the Industrial Relations Commission with goodwill, then I am sure that the Industrial Relations Commission will assist them. But it will do absolutely no good for people who are not associated with the dispute to get involved in it and beat their breasts about it.
Mr Kaine: But you are involved in it. You are the Industrial Relations Minister. Didn't you know?
MR BERRY: In conclusion, as the Industrial Relations Minister, I will try to facilitate a sensible result wherever it is possible. But one thing I am not going to do is get out there and whip the matter up for political purposes, because it is too - - -
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