FOR PRESS: PM. No 72/ 1972.
OIL INDUSTPY DISPUTE
Statement by the Prie M: i ster, the Rt.
Hon. William CniMP
Following discussions yesterday with senior Ministers in
Sydney about Ehe oil industry dispute, I announced that the
Minister for Labor and National Service, Mr. Lynch, the Minister
for Shipping and Transport ( Mr. Nixon), and the Attorney General,
Senator Greenwood would have inmediate discussions with oil
industry employers and the ACTU.
The Ministers met last evening with senior representatives of
the oil industry and this morning with ACTU officials, Mr. Hawke,
Mr. Petrie and Mr. Souter.
The purpose of these discussions was to enable the Ministers
to obtain a first-hand appreciation from the employers and from
the ACTU of the strike situation, possible developments and their
consequences. The Ministers have now reported the substance of
these discussions to Cabinet so that steps might be taken as
appropriate. The ACTU representatives informed the Ministers that they were
not prepared to say whether the ACTU wanted or could get the
w striking union members back to work, except under conditions which
could be seen as inconsistent with the decision of Mr. Justice
Moore. The strikers are to hold meetings in the four States
directly affected, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland
tomorrow morning ( Friday). This gives them the opportunity and the
responsibility for deciding to return to work immediately under
the terms of the recent decision of Mr. Justice Moore of the
Conciliation and Arbitration Commission. The Government wants a
full resumption of work and the lifting of any bans or restrictions
on the work to be performed.
The termination of this strike would make possible an early
resumption of proceedings by the Conciliation and Arbitration
Commission for hearing and determining the unions' claims in full.
The employers have consistently maintained their willingness to
proceed without delay to arbitration provided that normal work
is resumed.
The Government for its cart is firmly convinced that when
matters in disnute between emnlovers and unions cannot be resolved
by negotiation or conciliation, there can be no alternative but to
proceed with arbitration. That is precisely the situation which
has been reached in this particular dispute.
It is in the interests of all sections of the community that
our system of arbitration be maintained and that any efforts to
undermine it must be resisted.
The situation is becoming increasingly critical. The oil
companies have no,. put forward reasonable proposals for an
emergency plan that would minimise inconvenience to the public.
Unlike the plan proposed by Mr. Hawke the companies' plan
would not discriminate between companies but would involve the
participation of all of them.
The ACTU officers have been prepared to recommend that some
men return to work. It is a tecL of their authority and concern
for the public interest whether they now recommend that all men go
back to-ork. This is the only sure way in which the unnecessary
hardship and suffering by countless members of the community as
well as the threat to their welfare by the needless. disruption of
industrial and commercial activity can be avoided.
I emphasise the ACTU carries a heavy obligation for the
continuation of the strike.
427 Julv, i? 7?.