Page 3337 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 24 November 1992
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Mr Humphries: I am not saying that you personally are corrupt, but the relationship is another thing. I will withdraw the remark for those opposite who are offended by it.
Mr Berry: You really have to withdraw it unequivocally. You cannot make those sorts of statements.
Mr Humphries: I withdraw it.
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Humphries has withdrawn it. Please continue, Mr Berry.
MR BERRY: The Follett Government's approach to reform has been an example for many to follow. We have had cooperation rather than conflict. That is something that the Victorian people would really like now. They would like some cooperation with their Government, rather than the head-on, toe-to-toe approach which has been taken by Kennett and company.
Some examples of that cooperation are the Joint Council of the ACT Government Service and the ACT Government Occupational Health and Safety Council - something which was supported under the Alliance, it is true. The tripartite Occupational Health and Safety Council is a cooperative arrangement which, I am sure, would be walked away from if any Liberal tried a stunt such as that which occurred in Victoria. Nobody would cooperate with a government such as the Victorian Kennett Government, but these Liberals plan to supplant that sort of arrangement in the ACT. Of course, our Industrial Relations Advisory Council works very effectively with government. It is a cooperative arrangement with the trade union movement, and that is good.
We have worked to ensure that a cooperative and productive workplace culture continues to develop; that there are systems of best practice and continuous improvement; and, most importantly, that there are systems that do not exploit workers or that are based only on reducing wages and working conditions, because there is this social justice issue. All that the Liberals seem to be able to focus on is ripping off the wages and working conditions of workers. You cannot achieve micro-economic reform out there by yourself. If you think you can do that, you are living in a dark cave somewhere in the dark, distant past; you are troglodytes. What you have to do is to establish a trusting relationship. The Labor Party has been able to do that with the trade union movement. In fact, we were born out of the workers movement, and that is why we have that special relationship. We will continue to nurture that arrangement because of the positive results it can bring the people of Australia as well as the people of this Territory.
Mr Deputy Speaker, it is very clear that there has been no neglect by the Follett Labor Government of industrial relations; we are on the ball. We are also on the ball when it comes to introducing micro-economic reform in the ACT.
MR DE DOMENICO (4.01): Mr Deputy Speaker, there is no doubt that change is desperately needed in the ACT in our industrial relations system. However, this will never be possible while the Government capitulates to every whim of the trade movement. While the unions control the Government, changes cannot be implemented - changes that will benefit everyone, not just union members. Mr Deputy Speaker, recently we have had many examples of this Government's capitulation to the unions. For example, as highlighted by the former
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