Page 1323 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 12 May 1993
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
The Federal Industrial Relations Act prevails here in the Territory and does so very successfully. The most important thing about that is that it cannot be tinkered with by the Liberals opposite, and it will not be tinkered with by the Liberals federally. It is the most appropriate place for industrial relations matters to be dealt with, not this approach by Mr Moore. He and Ms Szuty will again be recognised for setting out to undermine the effectiveness of unions in this Territory to protect workers, particularly those in disadvantaged areas. They are always the first ones hurt, in particular women and children and young workers.
Mr De Domenico: How many children are members of unions?
MR BERRY: Women and young workers. People start work before they are 18.
Mrs Carnell: What sort of industries are you talking about?
MR BERRY: Take your industry, for example.
Mrs Carnell: What is the level of unionism?
MR BERRY: The more the better, and you would have it less. That is what you are setting out to do.
Madam Speaker, I conclude by saying that the Labor Party will oppose this legislation. We know that the Liberals are champing at the bit. This is just what they want. They love it because they see here an opportunity to weaken the trade union movement. That is why they like it. They are not particularly interested in the anti-discrimination aspect; they see it as an opportunity to weaken the trade union movement. Some of their redneck supporters will love it too; the sensible ones will not, because they know that it will create problems in the workplace rather than make the ACT a better place in which to run a business.
Mr Moore says that if it creates a problem later on we will fix it. That cannot be done. Once you lose it, once it gets out of the box, you cannot get it all back in. That is the real difficulty he has to face when he is considering this legislation. I reckon that the most appropriate course at this point would be for Mr Moore to adjourn this debate. I think there needs to be a bit of discussion with the trade union movement about the real effects of the legislation. I do not think they are clearly understood by Mr Moore.
Mr De Domenico: You just said that it was futile in reality.
MR BERRY: In terms of the Federal legislation, that is true; but its effects, broadly, have a high impact, and they are worth considering. I think Mr Moore's most appropriate course would be to adjourn it and have a bit longer discussion with the trade union movement. I am prepared to talk to him some more about it as well. I am convinced that this legislation will do us no good here in the Territory. It will make the Liberals smile, and they will be the only ones that are laughing. As I have said, disadvantaged workers - women and young workers - will be the first hit, those in the weakest areas of industry, as is always the case when unionism is undermined. Whilst on the face of it it looks noble, it is not. It will undermine the ability of workers to protect themselves.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .