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However, the TLC position is that the date of corporatisation of ACTEW coincide with the registration of a new enterprise bargaining agreement; and negotiated conclusion of current residual issues which go to the terms and conditions of employment.

Moreover this position on corporatisation is taken only in respect of ACTEW.

Mr Berry: Tell us about the picket line.

MR DE DOMENICO: I do not know anything about the picket line, Mr Berry, to be very honest with you. I ask whether you deny that Mr Pyner, the secretary of the Trades and Labour Council, has written to ACTEW saying:

This meeting of the TLC accepts in principle the corporatisation of ACTEW.

Need I say any more? So much for the nonsense that the unions are all jumping up and down, doing cartwheels, and saying “Oh, this is the end of the earth”. What nonsense! This is being done in consultation with the unions, as is the case in anything this Government will do. It will always consult. I note, Ms Horodny, that you disagree with the way that the Government is attempting to corporatise ACTEW. That is your prerogative. You will vote accordingly, obviously, when the vote comes up later on this afternoon. To suggest that there has been no consultation with the community, the unions or ACTEW staff is a nonsense.

This afternoon Mr Berry asked a question about the picket line at Lower Molonglo. Workers from the Australian Workers Union, I am advised, and the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union formed a picket line in support of their motion relating to pay negotiations under the enterprise agreement. It has nothing to do with ACTEW, Mr Berry. This act was in contravention - - -

Mr Berry: That is the enterprise agreement that you are going to do after the corporatisation. That is what they are worried about.

MR DE DOMENICO: Listen carefully. This act was in contravention of a direct order by the Australian Industrial Relations Commission to follow agreed dispute settling procedures. Subsequently, Mr Speaker, the employees abandoned the picket line and returned to work this morning. So much for Mr Berry's furphy. I say thank you to the person who provided me with that information as soon as they did.

Ms Horodny, yes, the Trades and Labour Council was consulted. The unions and ACTEW staff were consulted. The community was consulted. You were consulted as well. You might not agree with the tenor of the consultation, but you were consulted. You will have the opportunity of either agreeing or disagreeing with the Government's legislation later on this afternoon. The Government will not be supporting the move to refer it to a committee.

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