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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 6 Hansard (19 June) . . Page.. 1834 ..

MR KAINE (continuing):

ACTION buses into Queanbeyan. As I have indicated today to the trade unions in their consideration of the matter today, we will exercise that at a time in the future when we judge it to be economically feasible to do so. We will pick up that option. So that is a potential advantage to the employees of ACTION, not a disadvantage at all.

This is pie in the sky stuff that the Labor Party is trying to float. They are even at odds with the trade unions because, as I have said, only an hour or two ago the trade unions agreed - - -

Mr Berry: They did not have much alternative, did they?

MR KAINE: What do you mean by "they do not have any alternative"? They can go to the Industrial Relations Commission to resolve any conflict, as they always have done in the past, Mr Berry. If they chose to pursue the matter in the Industrial Relations Commission we would deal with the matter there, and we would accept the decision of the umpire, which you will not do. When the umpire comes down with a decision your lot will not accept it. This Government will. Do not try to misrepresent the facts. The employees and trade union officials involved in this issue on behalf of ACTION understand the situation and have accepted the reality of it. They have accepted the good sense and logic of it. It is about time that the members of the Opposition opposite did the same.

MR HIRD: Mr Speaker, may I congratulate you on making another birthday. Happy birthday.

MR SPEAKER: Just give me the present of asking a question, Mr Hird.

MR HIRD: My question, sir, is to the Minister for Industrial Relations, Mr Kaine. Is the Minister aware of the launch today of a new organisation called Professional Bargaining Australia? If so, what effect is the entry of a new organisation like this likely to have on the quality of labour relations in the ACT?

MR KAINE: Thank you for the question, Mr Hird. Yes, I am aware that there was a launch of this organisation this morning. I was unable to go to the launch, so the information that I have is somewhat second-hand; but I understand that that organisation has been set up. It is in business and is offering its service to employees in the workplace in terms of enterprise bargaining.

The first thing I would note about it, Mr Speaker, is the excellent union credentials of the two principals in the organisation, Mr Peter Devine and Mr Craig Shannon. I am sure those names will be well known to the Opposition. They come to this enterprise bargaining business with extensive credentials in that field. As I understand it,

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