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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 2 Hansard (28 February) . . Page.. 430 ..

MR STANHOPE (continuing):

We therefore have this appalling discrimination against a union which is not an extension or emanation of any political party. It is an organisation designed simply to protect and represent its members' interests-and boy, don't we know they need protecting in the current environment of the slash and burn attitude of this mob to nursing numbers, beds and conditions! If you look at the conditions that are sought to be imposed on the nurses in this case you will well and truly understand why perhaps there is some resistance and some real determination by the ANF to negotiate some acceptable outcomes. The negotiations have been simply ignored by this government.

I think the case has been well and truly made. This is quite appalling because Mr Tonkin has almost acknowledged that he has taken into account some irrelevant and quite extraneous considerations in his handling of this matter, and his notion of what is political seems to be really a reflection of his own particular biases.

If, as Mr Humphries suggests, Mr Tonkin was the decision maker in relation to this matter, he is simply quite wrong. He has made an appalling decision and this government should reverse it. This is an appalling example of political judgement and interference by a senior public servant. It is classic union bashing and it simply cannot be tolerated.

MS TUCKER (5.28): The Greens will be supporting the motion. The government, in its wisdom, decided not to accept the inclusion on government pay slips of a message from the ANF describing itself as vigorously representing ACT nurses and encouraging non-union nurses to make a contribution to the campaign. My office had a look at the parameters and criteria that are used. As Mr Stanhope said, there are some serious issues underlying this decision that do need to be debated. Mr Humphries said that it is not a trivial matter at all.

The following conditions are applicable to non-government advertising in ACT government publications:

1. Potential non government advertisers, their products and their advertising material will be carefully vetted to ensure that the material is appropriate and there is no conflict with:

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3. No political advertising of any sort will be accepted.

4. The following disclaimer must be included in all non ACT Government advertising: "The ACT Government does not necessarily endorse the products or services advertised"

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