. J A tISTU
PRIME M IN ISTER
PRIME MINISTER'S ADDRESS TO PARLIAMENT ON THE BLF
21 AUGUST 1985 E 0 E PROOF ONLY
MR SPEAKER,
BEFORE I AZDRESS i. YSELF SPECIFICALLY TO THE BILL BEFORE THE
HOUSE, LET ME SAY THAT THIS GOVERNMENT D6IESN'T NEED ANY
ADVICE ON THE CONDUCT OF INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS FROM THOSE ON
THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS HOUSE, WHO BY THEIR INEPTITUDE BROUGHT
ABOUT A SITUATION OF ANARCHY IN INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS IN THE
BEGINNING OF THE 1980s.
AND IF THEY WERE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, WHICH THEY WILL
NOT HAVE, REPRODUCE EXACTL. Y THE SAME SITUATION BY THE NONSENSE
THAT THEY ARE TALK: NG ABOUT IN INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS.
THEY WOULD SCRAP ENTIRELY THE SYSTEM OF CENTRALISED WAGE
FIXATION, THEY TALK ABOUT MUDGINBERRI, THEY WOULD HAVE
A SITUATION WHERE THE STREGTH OF TRADE UNIONS AND THE STRENGTH
OF EMPLOYERS WOULD BE PITTED CONSISTENTLY AGAINST ONE ANOTHER
AROUND THIS COUNTRY. IT'S A POLICY WHICH BROUGHT CHAOS IN
1981-82,
THEY LEARN NOTHING. THEY WOULD INFLICT IT UPON AUSTRALIA
AGAIN. NEITHER THIS COUNTRY NOR THIS GOVERNMENT WANTS ANY
ADVICE FROM THIS COLLECTION INCOMPETENTS IN THE AREA OF
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS.
THE BILL NOW BEFORE THE HOUSE IS A UNIQUE AND I BELIEVE
ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT PIECE OF LEGISLATION,
IT STEMS DIRECTLY FROM THE GOVERNMENT'S CONVICTION THAT NO
GOVERNt. MENT CAN TOLERATE, OR IN ANY WAY ACQUIESCE, IN THE
FORMS OF UNIONISM PERPETRATED BY UNIONS SUCH AS THE BLF,
As I SAID WHEN FORESHADOWING THIS LEGISLATION LAST WEEK:
" THE BLF's COMPLETE DISDAIN FOR THE LAW, THEIR
FREQUENT RESORT TO PRACTICES OF THUGGERY AND PHYSICAL
COERCION: HAVE NO PLACE IN OUR SOCIETY."
THE BLF HAS FORFEITED ANY CLAIM IT MIGHT OTHERWISE HAVE HAD
EITHER ON THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE OR ON THE TRADE UNiON NOVEMENT.
THE GOVERNMENT BELIEVES THAT OVER MANY YEARS THE BLF HAS
DEMONSTRATED NOTHING BUT CONTEMPT FOR THE SYSTEM AND VALUES
OF AUSTRALIAN SOCIETY, THERE SHOULD NOW BE NO BASIS UPON
WHICH IT CAN HOPE TO ELICIT ANY MEASURE OF PROTECTION OR
SUPPORT FROM OUR SOCIETY,
I KNOW OF NO SENSE IN WHICH THE TRADE UNION MOVEMENT CAN
REGARD THE INDUSTRIAL THUGGERY PRACTISED BY THE BLF WITH
ANYTHING BUT PROFOUND DISQUIET. THE BLF CONSISTENTLY NOW
HAS PUT ITSELF OUT OF LINE WITH THE MAINSTREAM OF WHAT
LEGITIMIATE TRADE tr. Inr! St.: IS A!. OUtT. iT FOR THIS REASOr
THE GOVERNMENT EXPECTS THAT THE LEGISLATION NO-' v PROPOSED TO
THIS HOUSE WiLL GET INDEED ALREADY HAS GOT THE
NECESSARY LEVEL OF SUPPORT FROM THE TRAL) E UNiON MOVLPIENT,
THE GOVERNMENT FOR ITS PART IS DETERMINED TO CREATE A NEW
INDUSTRIAL ENVIRONMENT IN THE BUILDING INDUSTRY, AN
ENVIRONMENT OF GREATER PEACE AND SUBSTANTiALLY IMPROVED
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
WITH BENEFITS TO BOTH WORKERS AND EMPLOYE S
AND FOR EMPLOYERS
AND FOR THE ECONOMY AS A WHOLE
THE GOVERNMENT HAS NOT BEGUN LIGHTLY THIS LEGISLATIVE
INITIATIVE AGAINST THE BLE, To PROPOSE . AS W1E NOW DO
MEASURES WHICH COULD RESULT IN THE CANCELLATION OF THE
REGISTRATION OF THE BUILDERS LABOURERS' FEDERATION UNDER
THE CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATION ACT, OR THE EFFECTIVE
EQUIVALENT OF SUCH DEREGISTRATION IN PARTS OF AUSTRALIA, IS
A MAJOR STEP NOT LEAST FOR A LABOR GOVERNMENT.
BUT THERE COMES A POINT AT WHICH GOVERNMENT HAS TO SAYENOUGH,
AND WE HAVE DONE THAT,
WIE AND OTHERS INVOLVED WITH THE INDUSTRY HAVE SHOWN INDEED
CONSIDERABLE PATIENCE IN THE FACE OF REPEATED FAILURE BY
THE BLE TO ADHERE TO INDUSTRIAL AGREEMENTS.
THE' ACT IONS OF THE ELF HAVE POSED A CONTINUOUS THREAT TO
THE STABILITY OF THE BUILDING INDUSIRY, THE EMPLOYMENT OF
OTHER BUILDING WORKERS, AND TO THE PRICES AND INCOMES
ACCORD. THERE ARE MANY ASPECTS OF THE BLF APPROACH THAT ARE
THOROUGHLY REPREHENSIBLE BY THE STANDARDS OF CONTEMPORARY
SOCIETY: THEY USE THE STRIKE WEAPON AND OTHER INDUSTRIAL
TACTICS SUCH AS SELECTIVE BANS AND LIMITATIONS WITH
THE OBJECTIVE OF " THE MOST HARM TO THE BOSS, THE LEAST
HARM TO ( THEMSELVES)". ( STEVE BLACK, NSW SECRETARY OF
BLF 1979),
SUCH ACTION FREQUENTLY IS ACCOMPANIED BY THE USE OF
VIOLENCE, DAMAGE TO PROPERTY, INTERRUPTION OF CONCRETE
POURS AND INTIMIDATION OF FELLOW WORKERS AS WELL AS
EMPLOYERS TO ACHIEVE BLF OBJECTIVES.
STANDOVER METHODS AND GUERRILLA TACTICS ARE COMMON
WEAPONS OF THE BLF
THEY HAVE USED THEIR CENTRAL POSITION IN THE
INDUSTRY WITH DEVASTATING EFFECT THROUGH MEASURES
SUCH AS
BANS ON STRATEGIC PARTS OF JOBS AND EQUIPMENT
ONE DAY AND ONE WEEK BANS ON CONCRETE POURS,
BREAKAGE OF CONCRFTE POURS
ON TRU,[ CK DELIVFRIES AND UNLOADING I
SAFETY AND OVERTIME BANS,
THEIR ACTION IS NOT CONFINED TO DIRECT INDUSTRIAL FORAYS,
THEY HAVE ALSO OCCUPIED BUILDINGS OF INSURANCE COMPANIES,
PRIVATE ORGANISATIONS, AND, AT LEAST ON ONE OCCASION,
PREMISES OF ANOTHER UNION, THE SIGHT OF THE BLF ENGAGING
IN VIOLENT DEMONSTRATIONS AND PHYSICAL ASSAULT AGAINST
FELLCW UNIONISTS HAS BECOME COMMONPLACE,
THE BLF's BEHAVIOUR AND TACTICS ARE ADDRESSED IN DETAIL IN
THE 1982 WINNEKE ROYAL COMMISSION REPORT, AND I QUOTE BRIEFLY FROM
IT, MR DEPUTY SPEAKER, IN THESE TERMS:
" THESE TACTICS FIND NO SUPPORT OR CONDONATION IN ANY
INDUSTRIAL LEGISLATION IN THIS COUNTRY, THEIR CONDUCT
NOT ONLY EX: EEDS THE BOUNDS OF INDUSTRIAL PROPRIETY
BUT, IN MANY INSTANCES, BLATANTLY TRANSGRESSES
CRIM! NAL LAW,. IN MANY, IF NOT MOST, INSTANCES DEMANDS
ARE MADE ACCOMPANIED BY THREATS, THOSE THREATS ARE
FREOUENTLY It1PLEMENTED AND THE IMPLEMENTATION HAS GOME
FAR BEYOND FINANCIAL LOSS AND HAS INVOLVED DAMAGE TO
PROPERTY AND PERSON THE RESULT HAS BEEN TO PLACE
THE BLF IN A UNIOUE POSITION A POSITION OF BEING
ABOVE THE LAW,".
THE FEDERATION HAS ALSO SHOWN CONTEMPT FOR THE
PROCESSES OF CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATION. IT HAS
CONTINUALLY REFUSED TO ABIDE BY ORDERS OF THE
COMMISSION AND CONSISTENTLY DESPITE MANY
UNDERTAKINGS PURSUED CLAItIS OUTSIDE THE GUIDELINES
THE Cor;. ISSjOr:,
THE DISI) AIN INFORMING THE BLF APPROACH TO THE
CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATION COMMISSION COMES THROUGH
CLEARLY IN REMARKS BY BLF OFFICE hOLDERS, A FEW
EXAMPLES: ARE NOT PREPARED TO ACCEPT ANY DECISION FROM
THE COMMISSION ON A DEMARCATION BETWEEN BUILDERS'
LABOURERS AND THE AWU." DALTON 1979).
S.,, UNDERTAKINGS CANNOT BE FOREVER AND EVER.... WE ARE
NOT GOING TO BE HELD TO AN AGREEMENT FOREVER AND
EVER." ( NORM GALLAGHER 1979),
" THE FEDERATION ', ILL NOT ABIDE BY ANY DECISION OR
ORDER THAT WOULD FOLLOW. THE FEDF9ATION WOULD PURSUE
ITS CLAIMS OUTSIDE THE COMMISSION IN THE FIELD,"
CAPOGRECO 1980),.
SUCH EXPRESSIONS OF ATTITUDE BY BLF OFFICIALS UNFORTUNATELY
HAVE NOT BEEN IDLE THREATS, THEY HAVE INFORMED THOSE VERY
ACTIONS OF THE BLF WHICH NOW MAKE NECESSARY THE ACTION
PROPOSED BY THE GOVERNMENT,
BLF ACTIVITIES THAT THE GOVERNMENT REGARDS AS FAR BEYOND
THE BOUNDS OF WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE WOULD INCLUDE THE
FOLLOWING: I
BREAKING THE FUNDAMENTAL UNDERTAKING TO THE INDUSTRIAL
REGISTRAR REGARDING FUTURE CONDUCT WHICH WAS A
COrt,' ITl ON I'R RE-REGISTRATION IN 107
BETWEEN 1976 AND 1982 THE BLF REPEATEDLY PURSUED
CLAIMS OUTSIDE THE SYSTEM, USED VIOLENCE AND
INTIMIDATION IN PURSUIT OF ITS CLAIMS AND
INDUSTRIAL ACTION OVER NON-INDUSTRIAL ISSUES,
DISREGARDING THE MORATORIUM ON IN4DUSTRIAL ACTION
AGREED IN 1983 IN RETURN FOR NEGOTIATIONS TOWARDS A
FORMAL AGREEMENT WHICH WOULD REPLACE DEREGISTRATION
PROCEEDINGS COMMENCED UNDER THE FORMER GOVERNMENT
DESPITE THE MORATORIUM, THE BLF MOU. NTED WHAT THE
CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION
CONFERENCE, MR VOSTI, DESCRIBED AS THE
" INTOLERABLE" ACTION OVER THE FLETCHER WATTS
D I F UT E,
BREACHING OF ITS NO FURTHER CLAIMS UNDERTAKING IN
OCTOBER 1983 TO THE COMMISSION AS REQUIRED TO ACHIEVE
NATIONAL WAGE CASE INCREASES,
* THESE BREACHES WERE FLAGRANT. Two MONTHS AFTER
GIVING THE UNDERTAKING THE BLF ENGAGED IN A
CAMPAIGN FOR AN EXTRA $ 9 PER WEEK IN 1984, MADE
DEMANDS FOR A 36 HOUR WEEK AT SHOPPING CENTRE
SITES, MADE CLAIMS FOR THE 1985 2,6% NATIONAL VIAGE
CASE INCREASE PRIOR TO ITS RATIFICATION BY THE
COMMISSION AND TOOK INDUSTRIAL ACTION IN SUPPORT OF
SITE ALLOWANCE CLAIMS,
AND THE LIST GOES ON, IN PECEMBER 1983 THE BLF MADE
UNDERTAKINGS TO THE GOVERNMENT WHICH WERE ACCEPTED BY THE
GOVERNMENT AS GROUNDS FOR ITS WITHDRAWAL FROM THE
DEREGISTRATION CASE, BUT BY FEBRUARY 1984, THE BLF HAD
LAUNCHED A NATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR AN EXTRA $ 9 PER WEEK
RATHER THAN PARTAKING IN NEGOTIATIONS DIRECTED TOWARDS A
SUPERANNUATION SCHEME, IN APRIL 1984 THE BLF ENGAGED IN A
DISRUPTIVE DISPUTE OVER A DEMARCATION ISSUE AT THE ALCAN
KURRI KURRI SMELTER SITE, DURING THIS DISPUTE THE BLF
PICKETTED THE SITE AND DAMAGED CARS OF EMPLOYEES. THE
OFFICES OF THE COMPANY'S SOLICITORS WERE ALSO INVADED.
THIS PERIOD ALSO WITNESSED THE MCG LIGHT TOWERS DEMARCATION
DISPUTE DURING WHICH THE SITE WAS FENCED OFF AND POLICE
WERE REQUIRED TO COUNTER A BLF PICKET OUTSIDE THE SITE,
BLF MEMBERS WERE ARRESTED ON A NUMBER OF CHARGES INCLUDING
TRESPASS AND RESISTING ARREST. SUPPORTING BANS WERE ALSO
PLACED ON OTHER VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT PROJECTS, ON TWO
OCCASIONS THE BLF ATTEMPTED TO INVADE THE OFFICES OF THE
RIVAL UNION, THE AWU,
No GOVERNMENT CAN IGNORE ANARCHY OF THIS KIND,
VHILE H.^ AVE EEN DP. EPARING FOR THE EVENTUALITY OF SUCH
LEGISLATInN THE NEW SOUTH 1,' ALES GOVERNMENT HAS NOW
DEREGISTERED THE BLF
AND THE CAIN GOVERNMENT IN VICTORIA HAS TAKEN
LEGiSLATIVE ACTION THAT WOULD AIMOUNT TO EFFECTIVE
DEREGISTRATION OF THE BLF FROM ' THE VICTORIAN
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS SYSTEM
To BE FULLY EFFECTIVE THESE MEASURES BY VICTORIA AND NEW
SOUTH WALES NEED TO BE ABLE TO BE COMPLEMENTED By FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT ACTION
PARTICULARLY IN NEW SOUTH WALES AND VICTORIA WHERE THE
FEDER~ ALLY REGISTERED ELF HAS BEEN A SOURCE OF MAJOR
DISRUPTION
IN ITS DETERMINATION TO BRING THE ELF TO ACCOUNT, THE
GO\ VERNMENT HAS REMAINED MINDFUL OF COMMUNITY CONCERN ThAT
THE DEREGISTRATION POWERS WE NOW PROPOSE SHOULD NOT BE USED
INDISCRIMINATELY OR CAPRICIOUSLY
WE SEE NO BASIS -EITHER BY WAY OF PRECEDENT OR
PRACTICE -FOR THE PRESENT LEGISLATION BEING APPLIED
IN A WIDER, TOTALLY CRUDE EXERCISE IN UNION BASHING.
THE CIRCUMSTANCES POSED BY THE BEHAVIOUR OF THE ELF
ARE GENUINELY UNIQUE.
I clI
THESE CONCERNS HAVE BEEN CAREFULLY WEIGHED IN THE BILL THAT
WAS INTRODUCED TO THE PARLiAMENT YESTERDAY, HAVING REGARD
TO THE OVERWHELMING NEED TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST KEY
ELEMENTS OF THE BLF AND THE NEED TO MINIMISE THE POTENTIAL
FOR ABUSE.
ACCORDINGLY A FUNDAMENTAL ELEMENT OF THE BILL IS THE ROLE
OF A FULL BENCH OF THE CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATION
COM MISSION IN DETERMINING WHETHER THE BLF HAS ENGAGED IN
CONDUCT THAT HAS PREVENTED OR SERIOUSLY HINDERED ARBITRAL
PROCESSES. SUCH A DETERMINATION BY THE ARBITRATION CO~ iIwISSION WOULD BE
A PREREQUISITE OF ANY GOVERN4MENT DECISION TO DEREGISTER THE
BL--F WE ARE CONSCIOUS OF THE OVERWHELMING NEED TO ENSURE
THAT JUSTICE IS DONE IN THIS MATTER, BUT THAT ALSO IT
IS SEEN TO BE DONE
THE BASIS FOR THE GOV'ERNMENT'S INTRODUCING THIS SPECIAL
LEGISLATION IS THAT WE BELIEVE THE BLF's CONDUCT AMOUNTS TO
A REPUDIATION OF THE FEDERAL SYSTEM FOR THE PREVENTION AND
SETTLEMENT OF INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES AND OF ITS
RESPONSIBILITIES AS A FEDERALLY REGISTERED ORGANISATION OF
EMPLOYEES, AS WELL AS BEING UTTERLY DISRUPTIVE TO
INDUSTRIAL PEACE.
As tHE MINISTER SAI,: YESTERDAY:
" IN THE GOVERNEr'T'S vIEW, THE ACTION WHICH IS
CONTEMPLATED IN THIS LEGISLATION IS SO SERIOUS THAT IT
IS ESSENTIAL THAT THERE BE IMPARTIAL CONSIDERATION BY
AN INDEPENDENT TRIBUNAL OF THE FEDERATION'S CONDUCT.
THIS WILL OCCUR AGAINST SPECIFIC CRITERIA WHICH ARE
APPROPRIATE TESTS OF WHETHER THE FEDERATION HAS
BEHAVED RESPONSIBLY AS AN ORGANISATION REGISTERED
UNDER THE CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATION ACT AND IN A
WAY WHICH IS CONSISTENT WITH THE OBJECTIVES OF OUR
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS SYSTEM."
THE BILL BEFORE THE HOUSE ALSO PROVIDES FOR THE MINISTER
FOR EMPLOYM. E NT AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS TO BE ABLE TO
DECIDE UPON APPROPRIATE ACTION FOLLOWING A FINDING OF
MISCONDUCT BY THE UNION,
HONOURABLE MEMBERS WILL ALSO APPRECIATE THAT THIS BILL
PROVIDES FOR A RANGE OF GOVERNMENT ACTION WHICH COULD BE
TAKEN AGAINST THE BLF EXTENDING FROM.
NATIONAL DEREGISTRATION OF THE ELF UNDER THE
CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATION ACT TO
SELECTIVE ACTION AGAINST THE BLF IN RELATION TO
TERMINATING OR SUSPENDING RIGHTS, PRIVILEGES OR
CAPACITIES OF THE BLF UNDER THE CONCILIATION AND
ARBITRATION ACT,
12,
HONOURABLE MEMBERS WILL APPRECIATE THAT DEREGISTRATION,
PARTICULARLY IN CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES, WOULD BE A POTENT
ACTION AGAINST THE BLF
ANY AWARD APPLYING TO THE BLF WOULD CEASE TO HAVE ANY
EFFECT IN RELATION TO THE BLF A1ND ITS MEMBERS
THE BLF WOULD NOT BE CiPABLE OF BEING A PARTY TO A
PROCEEDING BEFORE THE COMMISSION OR TO AN AWARD MADE
BY THE COMIMISSION, AND THE C0or11SSION WOULD NOT HAVE
ANY POWERS UNDER THE CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATION ACT
IN RELATION TO AN INDUSTRIAL DISPUTE IN SO FAR AS THAT
DISPUTE INVOLVED MEMBERS OF THE FEDERATION,
IT WOULD ALSO BE OPEN TO THE MINISTER TO MAKE ORDERS 1. HICH
WOULD HAVE THE EFFECT OF GRANTING TO OTHER REGISTERED
ORGANISATIONS COVERAGE OF WORK IN AN INDUSTRY OR IN A
LOCATION IN RESPECT OF WHICH THE BLF IS OR HAS BEEN
REGISTERED, THE GOVERNMENT WILL REQUIRE THE ASSISTANCE OF EMPLOYERS,
THE ACTU AND OTHER BUILDING UNIONS TO ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF
ITS PROPOSALS,
THERE WILL BE A PARTICULARLY HEAVY ONUS ON EMPLOYERS IN THE
INDUSTRY TO TAKE A FIRM STAND, Too OFTEN IN THE PAST
EMPLOYERS HAVE BEEN PREPARED TO DO SEPARATE DEALS WITH THE r
BLF AGAINST THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE.
-FURTHER, EMPLOYERS HAVE ADOPTED INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS'
PRACTICES WHICH HAVE FACILITATED THE SUCCESS OF THE
BLE'S TACTICS,
EMPLOYERS CAN HELP BY NOT ON4LY REFUSING TO ABIDE THE
BEHAVIOUR OF THE BLF, BUT EV-EN MORE IMPORTANTLY DOING
NOTHING TO LEND SOLACE OR SUCCOUR TO ITS POSITION. THE
GOVERNMENT WOULD ALSO EXPECT EMPLOYERS TO HONOUR THEIR~
OBLIGATIONS IN RELATION TO AN APPROPRIATE STANDARD OF[
INDUSTRIAL BEHAVIOUR INCLUDING BY ADHERENCE TO PROCEDURES
OF THE BUILDING INDUSTRY AGREEMENT, BY REFUSIN'G TO PAY FOR
TIME LOST DURING STRIIKES AND OTHER INDUSTRIAL ACTION, BY[
ENSURING THAT SAFE WORKING CONDITIONS ARE APPLIED AND BY
SEEING THAT EMPLOYEES ARE ENROLLED IN BUILDING INDUSTRY
SUPERANNUAl iON.
W4HAT BUILDERS NEED TO UNDERSTAND IS TH4AT IN THE LONGER TERMA
THEIR INTERESTS, AN4D THE INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY, DEPEND
UPON HAVIN4G A RATION4AL SYSTEM OF INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
WlITHIN WHICH THERE IS, AS THERE APPROPRIATELY SHOULD BE
WITHIN A DEMOCRACY, THE OPPORTUNITY FOR LEGITIMATE TRADE
UNIONS TO PUT POINTS OF VIEW AND FOR THERE TO BE RATIONAL
INTERCHANGES BETWEEN EMPLOYERS AND ORGANISED WORKERS. THIS
RELATIONSHIP OBVIOUSLY HINGES ON THE PARTIES TO THE
RELATIONSHIP BEING ABLE TO RELY ON THERE BEING CIVILIZED
BEHAVIOUR WITHIN THE INDUSTRIAL ENVIRONMENT.
14.,
CGOTAINLY THE COMMUNITY HAS HAD ENOUGH OF THE BEHAVIOUR OF
THE BLF AND OF INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS IN THE BUILDING
INDUSTRY AS A '-HOLE, THE CX-IMUNITY EXPECTS EMPLOYERS AND
ALL UNIONS INVOLVED TO RESPOND TO THE CLEAR COMMUNITY
POSITION ON THIS,
IT IS IN THIS SPIRIT THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS GIVING
CONFIDERATION4 TO NON-LEGISLATIVE MEASURES DESIGNED TO
ENSURE THAT CONTRACTORS ON GOVERNMENT PROJECTS ADHERE TO
GOV'ERNMENT INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS PRACTICES,
THIS GO\ VERNMENT BELIEVES FIRMLY IN LEADERSHIP BY
EXAMPLE IN THIS MATTER AND WILL BE APPROACHING STATE
AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO ADOPT SIMILAR MEASURES,
MR SPEAKER,
IT IS WELL KNOWN IBELIEVE THAT IWOULDN'T ALWAYS EMBRACE WHAT
IS IN THE EDITORIALS OF THE ' AUSTRALIAN' NEWSPAPER BUT I DO BECAUSE
THEY ARE SOMETIMES WRONG, BUT ON THIS OCCASION THEY ARE
PRE-EMINENTLY RIGHT. AND ON THE 19TH JULY OF THIS YEAR IN
AN EDITORIAL IN THE ' AUSTRALIAN' THIS WAS SAID
" THE BLF HAS SHOWN ABSOLUTE DESREGARD FOR BOTH THE
INDUSTRIAL AND CIVIL LAWS OF AUSTRALIA FOR YEARS, IT
HAS IGNORED THE ORDERS OF INDUSTRIAL COURTS, INVADED
PRIVATE OFFICES AND DESTROYED PROPERTY, EMPLOYED WqHAT
CAN ONLY BE DESCRIBED AS STANDOVER TAC'. ICS IN
NEGOTIATIONS WITH BUILDING COMPANIES AND COST THE
COUNTRY UNTOLD MILL IONS OF DOLLARS THROUGH
OUFSTIONALE INDUSTRIAL ACTION"
WE INTEND PUTTING AN END TO THIS SITUATION,
I SUPPOSE, MR DEPUTY SPEAKER, IT DOESN'T NEED TO EBE EMPHASISED BUT
I DO MAKE THE POINT WITH THE BACKGROUND I HAVE IN THE TRADE UNION
MOVEMENT IT GIVES ME NO PLEASURE TO HAVE ARRIV'ED AT THIS SITUATION,
BUT IT IS A NECESSARY POSITION THAT WE HAVE REACHED NOW AND
WE INTEND TO TAKE THE ACTION WHICH IS NECESSARY IN THE INTERESTS
OF THIS SOCIETY.
WE DO SO IN THE NAME OF THE COUNTRY AS A WHOLE AND LOOK TO THIS
HOUSE FOR FULL AND UNQUALIFIED SUPPORT IN THE ACTION NOW
PROPOS ED,
I COMMEND THE BILL TO THE HOUSE.
L