Page 3493 - Week 11 - Thursday, 14 October 1993
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Of course, the old States' rights argument emerges from time to time. In Victoria there have been savage attacks on the trade union movement by the Kennett Government. The attitude of the Western Australian Government is extremely conservative as well. New South Wales could be described as being slightly better - the best of a bad bunch. As far as we are concerned the Federal industrial relations system has served us well and we support the Commonwealth's objective of providing for minimum employment standards to underpin the enterprise bargaining process. We will continue to support that.
The ACT Government would also be concerned to ensure that there is a continuing role for trade unions in the enterprise bargaining arrangement. That is something that the Liberal States might not be so concerned about because they are not so concerned about the protection that is provided for workers. They are more interested in making sure that workers are unprotected and open to exploitation by unscrupulous employers. The fact of the matter is that, if we have a strong trade union movement which can protect the interests of workers, the position for wages and working conditions is far safer. That will prevail and the ACT Government will encourage people to join their relevant union because it is the only way - - -
Mr Humphries: Unsuccessfully, apparently. Membership is declining.
MR BERRY: I suppose, Mr Humphries, that it is a sign of the success of the trade union movement because it has put in place a wages system under the Federal industrial relations system which every worker is entitled to, whether they belong to a trade union or not. The labour movement is not selfish about these things. We believe that social justice can be found within the provision of workers' wages and working conditions. The trade union movement to this point has been entirely happy with the situation whereby workers are entitled to the wages and working conditions prescribed in awards, whether they are members of unions or not.
What has been attempted by the conservative States, and was attempted as part of the election campaign for the Federal conservatives, is a quite different set of circumstances which would undermine that protection which was provided for trade unionists. The ACT Government has no such visions. We believe in the continuing strength of the trade union movement as protection for wages and working conditions amongst employees. I know that that is not the view of the Liberal Party. I know that they have a different view and that is what separates us.
Mr Humphries: Is this relevant, Madam Speaker? The question was about the States, not about us.
MR BERRY: Mr Humphries bleats and whinges over there because he does not like having the facts laid down in front of him.
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