Page 3573 - Week 14 - Tuesday, 8 December 1992
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currently identified by Mr Kaine as being used in the march have been officially reprimanded, and the driver of the ACTION bus involved has been counselled as part of the normal disciplinary process. It is a normal response to those sorts of matters.
I must say that, from my point of view, the day of action went very well. It highlighted, along with the actions of other unionists across Australia, what is happening in Victoria. It was a matter of some pleasure to me to be part of the process and to belong to a team of Labor politicians in this Assembly who are right behind the process of highlighting the inadequacies of what has been proposed in Victoria by the Kennett Government, and to one degree or another supported federally. I see now that the cancer is likely to spread into New South Wales.
It is good to see that workers out there can organise and unite in this country, and they have the right to do so. It is an important part of our democracy that people can take a strong stand against repressive industrial laws and the industrial intentions of particular governments. They ought not to be put into the same class as criminals when it comes to the taking of industrial action. That is what is proposed by Mr Kennett in Victoria. Those workers who stood up and were seen to be standing up against the industrial activity that has been prompted by the actions in Victoria are to be congratulated for their efforts.
MR KAINE: I ask a supplementary question, Madam Speaker. I am pleased to note that the Government has taken appropriate disciplinary action, and I appreciate that advice. Since the Minister claims that this was such a resounding success, will he tell the Assembly what changes in this Government's draconian law affecting the trade unions are now likely to occur because of the success of their protest? It was a protest against this Government; I do not know who else they were protesting against. Which draconian laws that you put into place do you intend now to change, Minister?
MR BERRY: Mr Kaine is trying to divert attention from what the protest was all about. The protest was all about, to use his description, the draconian laws that are being proposed by Mr Kennett in Victoria and endorsed as part of the Fightback package and scheme of things. Unions, unionists and workers across Australia have very clearly identified the danger to Australian society which might arise if a Federal coalition government were to be elected.
Mr Kaine: On a point of order, Madam Speaker: I suggest that the Minister should have the relevance of answers drawn to his attention. He has already used 10 minutes of the time making political statements instead of answering my question.
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Kaine, I believe that Mr Berry knows what the question was. I will let him answer it.
MR BERRY: Mr Kaine does not appear to know that Federal industrial laws apply in the Territory in relation to industrial disputes. Therefore, it is entirely appropriate for unionists and workers in the Territory to protest about changes they believe will undo their industrial conditions in the Territory. It is a quite appropriate protest for those people to make. It is a cancer that is spreading through the Liberal ranks. The good thing about it is that it shows that we are poles apart from this lot opposite; and more and more people around Australia can see that.
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