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GOVERNMENT/ TRADE UNION SUMIT IN CANBERRA DT
JUNE. MR. FRASER EXPLAIIS. John Highfield reports.
FROM A. I. BROADCAST
19 MAY, 1976
HAMISH ROBERTSON: As you have no doubt heard there is to be
a Government/ Trade Union summit in Canberra next month. During
the conference the latest economic papers from the Treasury, the
Reserve Bank and Government Departments will be laid on the table
for union scrutiny. The Prime Minister has also given an undertaking
that secret ballot legislation will not be proclaimed until
after the summit. In Canberra Mr. Fraser is talking to John Highfield.
JOHN HIGHFIELD: Prime Minister, why have you called the trade
union movement to this conference.
1IR. FRASER: It's not just the trade union movement. We also .; ant
to have talks with the employers. But the trade union movement is
important in relation to what happens in Australia. Their attitude
to wages policy has a great influence on inflation, on the well
being of their own members. We, in the package that will be
announced in detail by the Treasurer, are proposing measures
relating to tax indexation, to family allowances which, we believe,
represent real economic and social reforms. The Government has
a significant and obviously a leading role to play in these
particular matters, but as I emphasised last night all Australians
have a responsibility for what happens to this country. The trade
Union movement has a responsibility. It is essential in the
modern day Australia for the Government to be able to talk with the
trade union movement concerning natters of importance, to be able
to talk with the employer organisations concerning matters of
rJ. " P'STR cont'd: importance and I am glad therefore that
Mr. Hawke, on behalf Of the trade union movement, has accepted
wide ranging talks in which the economic advice available to us
will be made available to himself and to his delegates, to his
colleagues, and I would expect that trade union delegates and
senior ministers, after the official briefings if I can put it
that way would hold discussions concerning the future.
JOHN HIGHFIELD: There's bound to be some people say that this
in fact is a climb down by the Government in the face of some
pressures from the A. C. T. U.?
MRl. FRASER: Oh I can't think so for a moment, because I offered
the talks last night and Mr. Hawke accepted them today. How can
that be a climb down by the Government?
JOHN HIGHFIELD: Well he made a fairly strong statement about the
secret ballot legislation.
MR. FRASER: Oh but the secret ballot legislation will be going
through the Parliament. The only thing that is happening in
relation to that is that we've said we will not proclaim it until
after the talks. If there can be a lessening of differences
concerning the future of the economy as a result of those talks
it's no price to pay to say that the legislation won't be proclaimed
until after them.
JOHN HIGHFIELD: And possibly alter the legislation if a strong
case is made by the unions?
it. FRASER: Look, if a strong case can be made, of course we will
listen to it. We will listen to that from anyone and I think we
would be very foolish, you know, as a Government if we don't.