PRIME MINISTER TUESDAY, 16 OCTOBER 1979
From the Press Office SUMMARY OF ABC'S NEWSVOICE
The row continued. today over the Federal Government's plans
to amend the Conciliation and Arbitration Act. The Prime Minister
and the Minister for Industrial Relations, Mr. Street, made it
clear today that the Government and not members of the
Conciliation and Arbitration Commission would control legislation
relating to industrial disputes. Both Mr. Fraser and Mr. Street
came under strong Opposition attack in Parliament this afternoon
over the proposed amendments, now awaiting debate in the Senate.
Report
Statements this afternoon by both the Prime Minister and
Mr. Street were perhaps the strongest yet in the growing
controversy over the Conciliation and Arbitration Act amendments.
There now appears no question whatsoever that the Government
has not intention of withdrawing or watering down the legislation.
In reply to one question Mr. Fraser said it was the Government's
right to determine legislation in the industrial relations area
and that was a policy the Government would pursue. The amendments
now before Parliament would strengthen the powers of the
Conciliation and Arbitration President in a way the Government
believed. was constructive. Launching a public importance debate
on the need for the Government to re-consider its industrial
relations policy on the basis of concern by 25 members of
the Conciliation and Arbitration Commission, the Opposition
Leader, Mr. Hayden, accused the Government of putting a noose
on the impartiality of justice and it was not over-stating it,
he said, to say the issue had now moved to crisis proportions.
The Conciliation and Arbitration amendments, said Mr. Hayden,
were not only unconstitutional, but would be inflamatory and
create all sorts of problems for the Commission's handling
of industrial disputes, in addition to which Parliament itself
had been deceived. In his reply, Mr. Street said he had received
advice from the Attorney-General which reaffirmed earlier
advice that objections raised by a Deputy President of the
Conciliation and Arbitration Commission, Mr. Justice Staples, did
not show the amendments were in any way unconstitutional. He also
denied the legisl. ation would create problems for the Commission.
Rather they would enhance the integrity of future awards.
Outside the HOUSE!, Mr. Hayden maintained however, that the Government
had set out on a deliberate course to force the amendments
through Parliament at the same time undermining the credibility
of Mr. Justice Staples.
Hayden There is a long record of Judges of various courts in
Australia speaking publicly on matters of concern including
criticism of aspects of rules they have to administer.
What the Government sought to do, however, was to try to
intimidate Justice Staples, to quell any criticism coming
from the Conciliation and Arbitration Commission, and set
about in a most unwholesome way to try to reduce the
man's professional standing and to intimidate him by
suggesting there would be inquiry at the Attorney-General's / 2
-2
Hayden ( continued)
level; leaked stories about perhaps being called by both
Houses of Parliament to show cause why he should remain
a Judge, when in fact they already have a communication from
all 25 of the Conciliation and Arbitration Commissioners
expressing their total dissatisfaction and objection to this
legislation. The whole thing is a contrivance to mislead
the Parliament and to try to duress Justice Staples into
silence. At the same time they have tried to panic
measure the legislation through the Parliament. Now, it is
quite undesirable. What this legislation will do will be to
destroy the credibility of the Conciliation and Arbitration
system in this country before disputants who appear before it.
It is unconstitutional anyway. What the Government should
do is withdraw the legislation, revise its position after
consultation with all of the likely parties to these sorts
of processes.
Kampuchea: thousands of refugees are still streaming across
the border into Thailand. Many of them are sick and starving.
Border fighting is intensifying.
A strong earthquake, followed by a series of aftershocks,
has rocked Southern California and Northern Mexico. One person
reported killed and more than 40 injured. There has been
considerable damage to many small towns and communities.
N. S. W. has a new Police Commissioner. He is Mr. Jim Lees,
who has been Acting Commissioner since the resignation of
Mr. Merv Wood in June.
A sit-in by 31 workers at the Union Carbide Plant in
Melbourne has ended after 51 days. It is thought to be the
longest occupation of a workplace by employees in Australia.
The workers locked themselves in the plant after Union Carbide
threatened to use staff labour to perform overtime work, which
has been banned in support of a 35-hour week campaign.
Interview with Mr. Neville Hill of the Victorian Metalworkers
Union.
A New Zealand marine scientist has come up with-a new
treatment for certain forms of arthritis. Mr. John Croft
interviewed.
The power authority in Tasmania, the Hydro-Electric
Commission, wants the State's next major power development
scheme to be based on the integrated development involving
the Gordon, Franklin, and King Rivers. Report was tabled
in State Parliament a short while ago.
Trade: Australian manufacturers want to set up a customs
union with New Zealand. The New Zealanders are apparently
not keen on the idea. The Australian businessmen are reported
to be pushing the idea at the Annual Meeting of the
New Zealand Australia Free Trade Agreement held this year in
New Zealand. 000---