Embargoed until 7.00 p. m. 24.4.77
FOR PRESS 24 APRIL 1977
ELECTORATE TALK -THE VICTORIAN STRIKE
Community life throughout the state of Victoria has been
disrupted by the actions of 230 men. Motorists are going
without petrol because a small section of the Transport Workers
Union is confronting oil companies in Victoria and the
Conciliation and Arbitration Commission, both rejecting
indexation and seeking to impose on employers the cost of
health care for which they have already been compensated.
This is taking place at a time when throughout Australia employers
have voluntarily agreed to hold prices, and at a time when the
Government is asking the ACTU President, Mr. Hawke, and the
representatives of other national union bodies, to join in an
overall income and price pause.
In the past, some commentators have accused the Commonwealth
Government of seeking confrontation with the trade union movement.
This is a ludicrous charge. Nothing is further from the
Government's intentions. We do not want confrontation. The
fact is that these few members of the Transport Workers Union
are confronting the people of Victoria.
What the Government wants is industrial harmony. The Government
seeks a co-operative effort by all members of the community to
work together . vtoJrestore economic activity to those levels
which produced the prosperity we took so much for granted in
. the 1950s and 1960s.
The disruption to life in Victoria, because a handful of men
want industrial conditions in advance of the rest of the
community, is of deep concern.
In these circumstances, I have informed the Victorian Premier
that the Commonwealth is willing to assist him in any action
that the State Government might take.
The Victorian Government has the powers to protect the people
of Victoria from such action as that taken by these 230
transport drivers. / I understand,
-2
I understand, and I am gratified to hear, that the Victorian
Premier is considering the legalities of the matter and his
future action.
The dispute primarily affects Victoria, although there is a direct
impact on interstate trade and commerce. In these circumstances, I
have informed the Victorian Premier that Commonwealth officials
would be made available to meet with State Government officials
forthwith to consider how best to protect the people of Victoria
from state-wide dislocation by a small group of people.
I hope that good sense, and an understanding of the fact that we
are a community, will come through to the striking men, and will
lead to an end to the dispute as soon as possible.
The Commonwealth is prepared to use all resources under its
control to alleviate the hardship of the people of Victoria.
Public opinion has been respected by employers since the seven
heads of government of Australia made a call for a voluntary
income and price pause. For example, on Friday, one large overseas
company, Leyland, responded to public opinion by rescinding a
projected price increase.
Last week, on the other hand, I found the President of the Australian
Council of Trade Unions, Mr. Hawke, and the representatives of other
national trade union bodies, quite impervious to public opinion.
They were not prepared to give any sort of-commitment to the objectives
in the heads of government agreement of income and prices restraint.
The demands of these Victorian Transport Workers for a sharp increase in
pay would overturn the well-established principles of indexation. The
claims of these Transport Union members at this time involve the
repudiation of everything heads of government were calling for.
What is the point to a national conference about restraint when
Mr. Hawke evades the issue and withholds even a personal commitment.
At the same time, another small section of the trade union movemen*
is making demands which greatly inconvenience all Victorians andW
which would make a. jidckery of the wage restraint part of the income
and price pause.
It becomes clear why the Government sees little point in Mr. Hawke's
proposed national conference.
I would like to emphasise again that it is important, whether or not the
trade union laaders allow the wage price voluntary restraint to succeed,
to stay within the overall wage setting system.
The Government will not look kindly on any company which gives in to
union pressure of the kind being exerted in Victoria. Any firm which
surrenders to pressure of this sort should know that the Government
would feel disposed to subject its pricing policy to close examination
through the powers which are available to the Government.