❓ Premier Court defends the government's workplace agreements legislation, citing industry support and contrasting it with the opposition's stance. He accuses the opposition leader of inconsistency and being influenced by unions.
AnsweredQoN 19Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Has the Premier received representations from industry wanting to retain the current workplace agreements legislation? Mr COURT
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. Yes, representations have come from a wide range of industries and not just from the mining industry. A good example of the support for the workplace agreements legislation is the new food processing facility opened by the Prime Minister for Kailis and France Pty Ltd. The owners of that facility said they could not have made that investment, which employs over 300 people, without the flexibility that has been provided by the workplace agreements legislation. It is rather interesting that, literally, the Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues went to the barricades on the workplace agreements legislation. Can members remember the debates in this Parliament and the people who tried to take over this Parliament? Dr Gallop: We will have great fun introducing the repeal Bill. Mr COURT: In debate on 10 August 1993 the Leader of the Opposition said - ^The Opposition intends to use all of its energies to fight this legislation, not only now in Parliament, but also outside this Parliament. We will be reminding the working people of this State over the next three years what this Government has done to try to reduce their working conditions in an attempt to undermine the very civilisation that has made Australia a unique country. The labour relations spokesperson, the member for Nollamara, said in the same debate - ^The changes proposed in the industrial relations legislation and particularly in the Workplace Agreements Bill are an attack on the working conditions and living standards of the people of Western Australia. There is no doubt that families in Western Australia will suffer if the Minister for Labour Relations has his way and this legislation becomes law. It is interesting that members opposite have said they will repeal the workplace agreements legislation. However, the Labor Party is saying to industry that although it will repeal the workplace agreements legislation, nudge nudge, wink wink, it will bring in some other legislation that will allow industry to do what it is doing now anyway. Dr Gallop: No, I am not. Mr COURT: Yes, the Leader of the Opposition is saying that now. He went to the federal Labor Party conference that decided that that party would abolish individual contracts. Mr Kobelke: No, we will not. You do not know what you are talking about. Mr COURT: That is now Labor Party policy. The Leader of the Opposition is saying that he wants to do things differently in Western Australia. The Leader of the Opposition has gone out into the workplace and found out that more than 200 000 people have workplace agreements and do not mind working under those agreements. The Leader of the Opposition is now changing his position and saying that his policy - not the Labor Party's policy, but his policy - in effect will allow workplace agreements. Dr Gallop: You have got it wrong. Your workplace agreements system is a scandal and we will get rid of it. Mr COURT: The Leader of the Opposition got mugged in Hobart. I will read out the names of the people involved in that conference: Australian Council of Trade Unions president Sharan Burrow; the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association national secretary Joe de Bruyn and state secretary Joe Bullock - we know him well; Metals and Engineering Workers Union state secretary Jock Ferguson; Australian Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union state secretary, Helen Creed and national secretary Geoff Lawrence; and the Builders Labourers and Plasterers Union assistant state secretary Kim Young. They said to the Leader of the Opposition, "We’re sorry buster; we set the policy on workplace agreements – not you." A press release was authorised by John Halden - that gentleman with a glittering indifference to the truth. I will read out how Labor policy is formed. John Halden said that policy within the Australian Labor Party is not made by directors or the leadership but by resolutions originating from branches, affiliated unions and individual party members. The Leader of the Opposition can say what he likes; 60 per cent of his party’s members come from the union movement. Members should make no mistake: The Labor Party's policy on workplace agreements will not be what the Leader of the Opposition says it will be, but what the union movement tells him it will be. It is a compliment that the Leader of the Opposition wants to backflip on workplace agreements. He is trying to fudge this issue and give the impression that the Labor Party can be all things to all people.
Mr COURT replied : I thank the member for some notice of this question. Yes, representations have come from a wide range of industries and not just from the mining industry. A good example of the support for the workplace agreements legislation is the new food processing facility opened by the Prime Minister for Kailis and France Pty Ltd. The owners of that facility said they could not have made that investment, which employs over 300 people, without the flexibility that has been provided by the workplace agreements legislation. It is rather interesting that, literally, the Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues went to the barricades on the workplace agreements legislation. Can members remember the debates in this Parliament and the people who tried to take over this Parliament? Dr Gallop: We will have great fun introducing the repeal Bill. Mr COURT: In debate on 10 August 1993 the Leader of the Opposition said - ^The Opposition intends to use all of its energies to fight this legislation, not only now in Parliament, but also outside this Parliament. We will be reminding the working people of this State over the next three years what this Government has done to try to reduce their working conditions in an attempt to undermine the very civilisation that has made Australia a unique country. The labour relations spokesperson, the member for Nollamara, said in the same debate - ^The changes proposed in the industrial relations legislation and particularly in the Workplace Agreements Bill are an attack on the working conditions and living standards of the people of Western Australia. There is no doubt that families in Western Australia will suffer if the Minister for Labour Relations has his way and this legislation becomes law. It is interesting that members opposite have said they will repeal the workplace agreements legislation. However, the Labor Party is saying to industry that although it will repeal the workplace agreements legislation, nudge nudge, wink wink, it will bring in some other legislation that will allow industry to do what it is doing now anyway. Dr Gallop: No, I am not. Mr COURT: Yes, the Leader of the Opposition is saying that now. He went to the federal Labor Party conference that decided that that party would abolish individual contracts. Mr Kobelke: No, we will not. You do not know what you are talking about. Mr COURT: That is now Labor Party policy. The Leader of the Opposition is saying that he wants to do things differently in Western Australia. The Leader of the Opposition has gone out into the workplace and found out that more than 200 000 people have workplace agreements and do not mind working under those agreements. The Leader of the Opposition is now changing his position and saying that his policy - not the Labor Party's policy, but his policy - in effect will allow workplace agreements. Dr Gallop: You have got it wrong. Your workplace agreements system is a scandal and we will get rid of it. Mr COURT: The Leader of the Opposition got mugged in Hobart. I will read out the names of the people involved in that conference: Australian Council of Trade Unions president Sharan Burrow; the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association national secretary Joe de Bruyn and state secretary Joe Bullock - we know him well; Metals and Engineering Workers Union state secretary Jock Ferguson; Australian Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union state secretary, Helen Creed and national secretary Geoff Lawrence; and the Builders Labourers and Plasterers Union assistant state secretary Kim Young. They said to the Leader of the Opposition, "We’re sorry buster; we set the policy on workplace agreements – not you." A press release was authorised by John Halden - that gentleman with a glittering indifference to the truth. I will read out how Labor policy is formed. John Halden said that policy within the Australian Labor Party is not made by directors or the leadership but by resolutions originating from branches, affiliated unions and individual party members. The Leader of the Opposition can say what he likes; 60 per cent of his party’s members come from the union movement. Members should make no mistake: The Labor Party's policy on workplace agreements will not be what the Leader of the Opposition says it will be, but what the union movement tells him it will be. It is a compliment that the Leader of the Opposition wants to backflip on workplace agreements. He is trying to fudge this issue and give the impression that the Labor Party can be all things to all people.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. Yes, representations have come from a wide range of industries and not just from the mining industry. A good example of the support for the workplace agreements legislation is the new food processing facility opened by the Prime Minister for Kailis and France Pty Ltd. The owners of that facility said they could not have made that investment, which employs over 300 people, without the flexibility that has been provided by the workplace agreements legislation. It is rather interesting that, literally, the Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues went to the barricades on the workplace agreements legislation. Can members remember the debates in this Parliament and the people who tried to take over this Parliament? Dr Gallop: We will have great fun introducing the repeal Bill. Mr COURT: In debate on 10 August 1993 the Leader of the Opposition said - ^The Opposition intends to use all of its energies to fight this legislation, not only now in Parliament, but also outside this Parliament. We will be reminding the working people of this State over the next three years what this Government has done to try to reduce their working conditions in an attempt to undermine the very civilisation that has made Australia a unique country. The labour relations spokesperson, the member for Nollamara, said in the same debate - ^The changes proposed in the industrial relations legislation and particularly in the Workplace Agreements Bill are an attack on the working conditions and living standards of the people of Western Australia. There is no doubt that families in Western Australia will suffer if the Minister for Labour Relations has his way and this legislation becomes law. It is interesting that members opposite have said they will repeal the workplace agreements legislation. However, the Labor Party is saying to industry that although it will repeal the workplace agreements legislation, nudge nudge, wink wink, it will bring in some other legislation that will allow industry to do what it is doing now anyway. Dr Gallop: No, I am not. Mr COURT: Yes, the Leader of the Opposition is saying that now. He went to the federal Labor Party conference that decided that that party would abolish individual contracts. Mr Kobelke: No, we will not. You do not know what you are talking about. Mr COURT: That is now Labor Party policy. The Leader of the Opposition is saying that he wants to do things differently in Western Australia. The Leader of the Opposition has gone out into the workplace and found out that more than 200 000 people have workplace agreements and do not mind working under those agreements. The Leader of the Opposition is now changing his position and saying that his policy - not the Labor Party's policy, but his policy - in effect will allow workplace agreements. Dr Gallop: You have got it wrong. Your workplace agreements system is a scandal and we will get rid of it. Mr COURT: The Leader of the Opposition got mugged in Hobart. I will read out the names of the people involved in that conference: Australian Council of Trade Unions president Sharan Burrow; the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association national secretary Joe de Bruyn and state secretary Joe Bullock - we know him well; Metals and Engineering Workers Union state secretary Jock Ferguson; Australian Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union state secretary, Helen Creed and national secretary Geoff Lawrence; and the Builders Labourers and Plasterers Union assistant state secretary Kim Young. They said to the Leader of the Opposition, "We’re sorry buster; we set the policy on workplace agreements – not you." A press release was authorised by John Halden - that gentleman with a glittering indifference to the truth. I will read out how Labor policy is formed. John Halden said that policy within the Australian Labor Party is not made by directors or the leadership but by resolutions originating from branches, affiliated unions and individual party members. The Leader of the Opposition can say what he likes; 60 per cent of his party’s members come from the union movement. Members should make no mistake: The Labor Party's policy on workplace agreements will not be what the Leader of the Opposition says it will be, but what the union movement tells him it will be. It is a compliment that the Leader of the Opposition wants to backflip on workplace agreements. He is trying to fudge this issue and give the impression that the Labor Party can be all things to all people.
It is rather interesting that, literally, the Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues went to the barricades on the workplace agreements legislation. Can members remember the debates in this Parliament and the people who tried to take over this Parliament? Dr Gallop: We will have great fun introducing the repeal Bill. Mr COURT: In debate on 10 August 1993 the Leader of the Opposition said - ^The Opposition intends to use all of its energies to fight this legislation, not only now in Parliament, but also outside this Parliament. We will be reminding the working people of this State over the next three years what this Government has done to try to reduce their working conditions in an attempt to undermine the very civilisation that has made Australia a unique country. The labour relations spokesperson, the member for Nollamara, said in the same debate - ^The changes proposed in the industrial relations legislation and particularly in the Workplace Agreements Bill are an attack on the working conditions and living standards of the people of Western Australia. There is no doubt that families in Western Australia will suffer if the Minister for Labour Relations has his way and this legislation becomes law. It is interesting that members opposite have said they will repeal the workplace agreements legislation. However, the Labor Party is saying to industry that although it will repeal the workplace agreements legislation, nudge nudge, wink wink, it will bring in some other legislation that will allow industry to do what it is doing now anyway. Dr Gallop: No, I am not. Mr COURT: Yes, the Leader of the Opposition is saying that now. He went to the federal Labor Party conference that decided that that party would abolish individual contracts. Mr Kobelke: No, we will not. You do not know what you are talking about. Mr COURT: That is now Labor Party policy. The Leader of the Opposition is saying that he wants to do things differently in Western Australia. The Leader of the Opposition has gone out into the workplace and found out that more than 200 000 people have workplace agreements and do not mind working under those agreements. The Leader of the Opposition is now changing his position and saying that his policy - not the Labor Party's policy, but his policy - in effect will allow workplace agreements. Dr Gallop: You have got it wrong. Your workplace agreements system is a scandal and we will get rid of it. Mr COURT: The Leader of the Opposition got mugged in Hobart. I will read out the names of the people involved in that conference: Australian Council of Trade Unions president Sharan Burrow; the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association national secretary Joe de Bruyn and state secretary Joe Bullock - we know him well; Metals and Engineering Workers Union state secretary Jock Ferguson; Australian Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union state secretary, Helen Creed and national secretary Geoff Lawrence; and the Builders Labourers and Plasterers Union assistant state secretary Kim Young. They said to the Leader of the Opposition, "We’re sorry buster; we set the policy on workplace agreements – not you." A press release was authorised by John Halden - that gentleman with a glittering indifference to the truth. I will read out how Labor policy is formed. John Halden said that policy within the Australian Labor Party is not made by directors or the leadership but by resolutions originating from branches, affiliated unions and individual party members. The Leader of the Opposition can say what he likes; 60 per cent of his party’s members come from the union movement. Members should make no mistake: The Labor Party's policy on workplace agreements will not be what the Leader of the Opposition says it will be, but what the union movement tells him it will be. It is a compliment that the Leader of the Opposition wants to backflip on workplace agreements. He is trying to fudge this issue and give the impression that the Labor Party can be all things to all people.
Dr Gallop: We will have great fun introducing the repeal Bill. Mr COURT: In debate on 10 August 1993 the Leader of the Opposition said - ^The Opposition intends to use all of its energies to fight this legislation, not only now in Parliament, but also outside this Parliament. We will be reminding the working people of this State over the next three years what this Government has done to try to reduce their working conditions in an attempt to undermine the very civilisation that has made Australia a unique country. The labour relations spokesperson, the member for Nollamara, said in the same debate - ^The changes proposed in the industrial relations legislation and particularly in the Workplace Agreements Bill are an attack on the working conditions and living standards of the people of Western Australia. There is no doubt that families in Western Australia will suffer if the Minister for Labour Relations has his way and this legislation becomes law. It is interesting that members opposite have said they will repeal the workplace agreements legislation. However, the Labor Party is saying to industry that although it will repeal the workplace agreements legislation, nudge nudge, wink wink, it will bring in some other legislation that will allow industry to do what it is doing now anyway. Dr Gallop: No, I am not. Mr COURT: Yes, the Leader of the Opposition is saying that now. He went to the federal Labor Party conference that decided that that party would abolish individual contracts. Mr Kobelke: No, we will not. You do not know what you are talking about. Mr COURT: That is now Labor Party policy. The Leader of the Opposition is saying that he wants to do things differently in Western Australia. The Leader of the Opposition has gone out into the workplace and found out that more than 200 000 people have workplace agreements and do not mind working under those agreements. The Leader of the Opposition is now changing his position and saying that his policy - not the Labor Party's policy, but his policy - in effect will allow workplace agreements. Dr Gallop: You have got it wrong. Your workplace agreements system is a scandal and we will get rid of it. Mr COURT: The Leader of the Opposition got mugged in Hobart. I will read out the names of the people involved in that conference: Australian Council of Trade Unions president Sharan Burrow; the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association national secretary Joe de Bruyn and state secretary Joe Bullock - we know him well; Metals and Engineering Workers Union state secretary Jock Ferguson; Australian Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union state secretary, Helen Creed and national secretary Geoff Lawrence; and the Builders Labourers and Plasterers Union assistant state secretary Kim Young. They said to the Leader of the Opposition, "We’re sorry buster; we set the policy on workplace agreements – not you." A press release was authorised by John Halden - that gentleman with a glittering indifference to the truth. I will read out how Labor policy is formed. John Halden said that policy within the Australian Labor Party is not made by directors or the leadership but by resolutions originating from branches, affiliated unions and individual party members. The Leader of the Opposition can say what he likes; 60 per cent of his party’s members come from the union movement. Members should make no mistake: The Labor Party's policy on workplace agreements will not be what the Leader of the Opposition says it will be, but what the union movement tells him it will be. It is a compliment that the Leader of the Opposition wants to backflip on workplace agreements. He is trying to fudge this issue and give the impression that the Labor Party can be all things to all people.
Mr COURT: In debate on 10 August 1993 the Leader of the Opposition said - ^The Opposition intends to use all of its energies to fight this legislation, not only now in Parliament, but also outside this Parliament. We will be reminding the working people of this State over the next three years what this Government has done to try to reduce their working conditions in an attempt to undermine the very civilisation that has made Australia a unique country. The labour relations spokesperson, the member for Nollamara, said in the same debate - ^The changes proposed in the industrial relations legislation and particularly in the Workplace Agreements Bill are an attack on the working conditions and living standards of the people of Western Australia. There is no doubt that families in Western Australia will suffer if the Minister for Labour Relations has his way and this legislation becomes law. It is interesting that members opposite have said they will repeal the workplace agreements legislation. However, the Labor Party is saying to industry that although it will repeal the workplace agreements legislation, nudge nudge, wink wink, it will bring in some other legislation that will allow industry to do what it is doing now anyway. Dr Gallop: No, I am not. Mr COURT: Yes, the Leader of the Opposition is saying that now. He went to the federal Labor Party conference that decided that that party would abolish individual contracts. Mr Kobelke: No, we will not. You do not know what you are talking about. Mr COURT: That is now Labor Party policy. The Leader of the Opposition is saying that he wants to do things differently in Western Australia. The Leader of the Opposition has gone out into the workplace and found out that more than 200 000 people have workplace agreements and do not mind working under those agreements. The Leader of the Opposition is now changing his position and saying that his policy - not the Labor Party's policy, but his policy - in effect will allow workplace agreements. Dr Gallop: You have got it wrong. Your workplace agreements system is a scandal and we will get rid of it. Mr COURT: The Leader of the Opposition got mugged in Hobart. I will read out the names of the people involved in that conference: Australian Council of Trade Unions president Sharan Burrow; the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association national secretary Joe de Bruyn and state secretary Joe Bullock - we know him well; Metals and Engineering Workers Union state secretary Jock Ferguson; Australian Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union state secretary, Helen Creed and national secretary Geoff Lawrence; and the Builders Labourers and Plasterers Union assistant state secretary Kim Young. They said to the Leader of the Opposition, "We’re sorry buster; we set the policy on workplace agreements – not you." A press release was authorised by John Halden - that gentleman with a glittering indifference to the truth. I will read out how Labor policy is formed. John Halden said that policy within the Australian Labor Party is not made by directors or the leadership but by resolutions originating from branches, affiliated unions and individual party members. The Leader of the Opposition can say what he likes; 60 per cent of his party’s members come from the union movement. Members should make no mistake: The Labor Party's policy on workplace agreements will not be what the Leader of the Opposition says it will be, but what the union movement tells him it will be. It is a compliment that the Leader of the Opposition wants to backflip on workplace agreements. He is trying to fudge this issue and give the impression that the Labor Party can be all things to all people.
Dr Gallop: No, I am not. Mr COURT: Yes, the Leader of the Opposition is saying that now. He went to the federal Labor Party conference that decided that that party would abolish individual contracts. Mr Kobelke: No, we will not. You do not know what you are talking about. Mr COURT: That is now Labor Party policy. The Leader of the Opposition is saying that he wants to do things differently in Western Australia. The Leader of the Opposition has gone out into the workplace and found out that more than 200 000 people have workplace agreements and do not mind working under those agreements. The Leader of the Opposition is now changing his position and saying that his policy - not the Labor Party's policy, but his policy - in effect will allow workplace agreements. Dr Gallop: You have got it wrong. Your workplace agreements system is a scandal and we will get rid of it. Mr COURT: The Leader of the Opposition got mugged in Hobart. I will read out the names of the people involved in that conference: Australian Council of Trade Unions president Sharan Burrow; the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association national secretary Joe de Bruyn and state secretary Joe Bullock - we know him well; Metals and Engineering Workers Union state secretary Jock Ferguson; Australian Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union state secretary, Helen Creed and national secretary Geoff Lawrence; and the Builders Labourers and Plasterers Union assistant state secretary Kim Young. They said to the Leader of the Opposition, "We’re sorry buster; we set the policy on workplace agreements – not you." A press release was authorised by John Halden - that gentleman with a glittering indifference to the truth. I will read out how Labor policy is formed. John Halden said that policy within the Australian Labor Party is not made by directors or the leadership but by resolutions originating from branches, affiliated unions and individual party members. The Leader of the Opposition can say what he likes; 60 per cent of his party’s members come from the union movement. Members should make no mistake: The Labor Party's policy on workplace agreements will not be what the Leader of the Opposition says it will be, but what the union movement tells him it will be. It is a compliment that the Leader of the Opposition wants to backflip on workplace agreements. He is trying to fudge this issue and give the impression that the Labor Party can be all things to all people.
Mr COURT: Yes, the Leader of the Opposition is saying that now. He went to the federal Labor Party conference that decided that that party would abolish individual contracts. Mr Kobelke: No, we will not. You do not know what you are talking about. Mr COURT: That is now Labor Party policy. The Leader of the Opposition is saying that he wants to do things differently in Western Australia. The Leader of the Opposition has gone out into the workplace and found out that more than 200 000 people have workplace agreements and do not mind working under those agreements. The Leader of the Opposition is now changing his position and saying that his policy - not the Labor Party's policy, but his policy - in effect will allow workplace agreements. Dr Gallop: You have got it wrong. Your workplace agreements system is a scandal and we will get rid of it. Mr COURT: The Leader of the Opposition got mugged in Hobart. I will read out the names of the people involved in that conference: Australian Council of Trade Unions president Sharan Burrow; the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association national secretary Joe de Bruyn and state secretary Joe Bullock - we know him well; Metals and Engineering Workers Union state secretary Jock Ferguson; Australian Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union state secretary, Helen Creed and national secretary Geoff Lawrence; and the Builders Labourers and Plasterers Union assistant state secretary Kim Young. They said to the Leader of the Opposition, "We’re sorry buster; we set the policy on workplace agreements – not you." A press release was authorised by John Halden - that gentleman with a glittering indifference to the truth. I will read out how Labor policy is formed. John Halden said that policy within the Australian Labor Party is not made by directors or the leadership but by resolutions originating from branches, affiliated unions and individual party members. The Leader of the Opposition can say what he likes; 60 per cent of his party’s members come from the union movement. Members should make no mistake: The Labor Party's policy on workplace agreements will not be what the Leader of the Opposition says it will be, but what the union movement tells him it will be. It is a compliment that the Leader of the Opposition wants to backflip on workplace agreements. He is trying to fudge this issue and give the impression that the Labor Party can be all things to all people.
Mr Kobelke: No, we will not. You do not know what you are talking about. Mr COURT: That is now Labor Party policy. The Leader of the Opposition is saying that he wants to do things differently in Western Australia. The Leader of the Opposition has gone out into the workplace and found out that more than 200 000 people have workplace agreements and do not mind working under those agreements. The Leader of the Opposition is now changing his position and saying that his policy - not the Labor Party's policy, but his policy - in effect will allow workplace agreements. Dr Gallop: You have got it wrong. Your workplace agreements system is a scandal and we will get rid of it. Mr COURT: The Leader of the Opposition got mugged in Hobart. I will read out the names of the people involved in that conference: Australian Council of Trade Unions president Sharan Burrow; the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association national secretary Joe de Bruyn and state secretary Joe Bullock - we know him well; Metals and Engineering Workers Union state secretary Jock Ferguson; Australian Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union state secretary, Helen Creed and national secretary Geoff Lawrence; and the Builders Labourers and Plasterers Union assistant state secretary Kim Young. They said to the Leader of the Opposition, "We’re sorry buster; we set the policy on workplace agreements – not you." A press release was authorised by John Halden - that gentleman with a glittering indifference to the truth. I will read out how Labor policy is formed. John Halden said that policy within the Australian Labor Party is not made by directors or the leadership but by resolutions originating from branches, affiliated unions and individual party members. The Leader of the Opposition can say what he likes; 60 per cent of his party’s members come from the union movement. Members should make no mistake: The Labor Party's policy on workplace agreements will not be what the Leader of the Opposition says it will be, but what the union movement tells him it will be. It is a compliment that the Leader of the Opposition wants to backflip on workplace agreements. He is trying to fudge this issue and give the impression that the Labor Party can be all things to all people.
Mr COURT: That is now Labor Party policy. The Leader of the Opposition is saying that he wants to do things differently in Western Australia. The Leader of the Opposition has gone out into the workplace and found out that more than 200 000 people have workplace agreements and do not mind working under those agreements. The Leader of the Opposition is now changing his position and saying that his policy - not the Labor Party's policy, but his policy - in effect will allow workplace agreements. Dr Gallop: You have got it wrong. Your workplace agreements system is a scandal and we will get rid of it. Mr COURT: The Leader of the Opposition got mugged in Hobart. I will read out the names of the people involved in that conference: Australian Council of Trade Unions president Sharan Burrow; the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association national secretary Joe de Bruyn and state secretary Joe Bullock - we know him well; Metals and Engineering Workers Union state secretary Jock Ferguson; Australian Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union state secretary, Helen Creed and national secretary Geoff Lawrence; and the Builders Labourers and Plasterers Union assistant state secretary Kim Young. They said to the Leader of the Opposition, "We’re sorry buster; we set the policy on workplace agreements – not you." A press release was authorised by John Halden - that gentleman with a glittering indifference to the truth. I will read out how Labor policy is formed. John Halden said that policy within the Australian Labor Party is not made by directors or the leadership but by resolutions originating from branches, affiliated unions and individual party members. The Leader of the Opposition can say what he likes; 60 per cent of his party’s members come from the union movement. Members should make no mistake: The Labor Party's policy on workplace agreements will not be what the Leader of the Opposition says it will be, but what the union movement tells him it will be. It is a compliment that the Leader of the Opposition wants to backflip on workplace agreements. He is trying to fudge this issue and give the impression that the Labor Party can be all things to all people.
Dr Gallop: You have got it wrong. Your workplace agreements system is a scandal and we will get rid of it. Mr COURT: The Leader of the Opposition got mugged in Hobart. I will read out the names of the people involved in that conference: Australian Council of Trade Unions president Sharan Burrow; the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association national secretary Joe de Bruyn and state secretary Joe Bullock - we know him well; Metals and Engineering Workers Union state secretary Jock Ferguson; Australian Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union state secretary, Helen Creed and national secretary Geoff Lawrence; and the Builders Labourers and Plasterers Union assistant state secretary Kim Young. They said to the Leader of the Opposition, "We’re sorry buster; we set the policy on workplace agreements – not you." A press release was authorised by John Halden - that gentleman with a glittering indifference to the truth. I will read out how Labor policy is formed. John Halden said that policy within the Australian Labor Party is not made by directors or the leadership but by resolutions originating from branches, affiliated unions and individual party members. The Leader of the Opposition can say what he likes; 60 per cent of his party’s members come from the union movement. Members should make no mistake: The Labor Party's policy on workplace agreements will not be what the Leader of the Opposition says it will be, but what the union movement tells him it will be. It is a compliment that the Leader of the Opposition wants to backflip on workplace agreements. He is trying to fudge this issue and give the impression that the Labor Party can be all things to all people.
Mr COURT: The Leader of the Opposition got mugged in Hobart. I will read out the names of the people involved in that conference: Australian Council of Trade Unions president Sharan Burrow; the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association national secretary Joe de Bruyn and state secretary Joe Bullock - we know him well; Metals and Engineering Workers Union state secretary Jock Ferguson; Australian Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union state secretary, Helen Creed and national secretary Geoff Lawrence; and the Builders Labourers and Plasterers Union assistant state secretary Kim Young. They said to the Leader of the Opposition, "We’re sorry buster; we set the policy on workplace agreements – not you." A press release was authorised by John Halden - that gentleman with a glittering indifference to the truth. I will read out how Labor policy is formed. John Halden said that policy within the Australian Labor Party is not made by directors or the leadership but by resolutions originating from branches, affiliated unions and individual party members. The Leader of the Opposition can say what he likes; 60 per cent of his party’s members come from the union movement. Members should make no mistake: The Labor Party's policy on workplace agreements will not be what the Leader of the Opposition says it will be, but what the union movement tells him it will be. It is a compliment that the Leader of the Opposition wants to backflip on workplace agreements. He is trying to fudge this issue and give the impression that the Labor Party can be all things to all people.
A press release was authorised by John Halden - that gentleman with a glittering indifference to the truth. I will read out how Labor policy is formed. John Halden said that policy within the Australian Labor Party is not made by directors or the leadership but by resolutions originating from branches, affiliated unions and individual party members. The Leader of the Opposition can say what he likes; 60 per cent of his party’s members come from the union movement. Members should make no mistake: The Labor Party's policy on workplace agreements will not be what the Leader of the Opposition says it will be, but what the union movement tells him it will be. It is a compliment that the Leader of the Opposition wants to backflip on workplace agreements. He is trying to fudge this issue and give the impression that the Labor Party can be all things to all people.
Mr COURT replied : I thank the member for some notice of this question. Yes, representations have come from a wide range of industries and not just from the mining industry. A good example of the support for the workplace agreements legislation is the new food processing facility opened by the Prime Minister for Kailis and France Pty Ltd. The owners of that facility said they could not have made that investment, which employs over 300 people, without the flexibility that has been provided by the workplace agreements legislation. It is rather interesting that, literally, the Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues went to the barricades on the workplace agreements legislation. Can members remember the debates in this Parliament and the people who tried to take over this Parliament? Dr Gallop: We will have great fun introducing the repeal Bill. Mr COURT: In debate on 10 August 1993 the Leader of the Opposition said - ^The Opposition intends to use all of its energies to fight this legislation, not only now in Parliament, but also outside this Parliament. We will be reminding the working people of this State over the next three years what this Government has done to try to reduce their working conditions in an attempt to undermine the very civilisation that has made Australia a unique country. The labour relations spokesperson, the member for Nollamara, said in the same debate - ^The changes proposed in the industrial relations legislation and particularly in the Workplace Agreements Bill are an attack on the working conditions and living standards of the people of Western Australia. There is no doubt that families in Western Australia will suffer if the Minister for Labour Relations has his way and this legislation becomes law. It is interesting that members opposite have said they will repeal the workplace agreements legislation. However, the Labor Party is saying to industry that although it will repeal the workplace agreements legislation, nudge nudge, wink wink, it will bring in some other legislation that will allow industry to do what it is doing now anyway. Dr Gallop: No, I am not. Mr COURT: Yes, the Leader of the Opposition is saying that now. He went to the federal Labor Party conference that decided that that party would abolish individual contracts. Mr Kobelke: No, we will not. You do not know what you are talking about. Mr COURT: That is now Labor Party policy. The Leader of the Opposition is saying that he wants to do things differently in Western Australia. The Leader of the Opposition has gone out into the workplace and found out that more than 200 000 people have workplace agreements and do not mind working under those agreements. The Leader of the Opposition is now changing his position and saying that his policy - not the Labor Party's policy, but his policy - in effect will allow workplace agreements. Dr Gallop: You have got it wrong. Your workplace agreements system is a scandal and we will get rid of it. Mr COURT: The Leader of the Opposition got mugged in Hobart. I will read out the names of the people involved in that conference: Australian Council of Trade Unions president Sharan Burrow; the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association national secretary Joe de Bruyn and state secretary Joe Bullock - we know him well; Metals and Engineering Workers Union state secretary Jock Ferguson; Australian Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union state secretary, Helen Creed and national secretary Geoff Lawrence; and the Builders Labourers and Plasterers Union assistant state secretary Kim Young. They said to the Leader of the Opposition, "We’re sorry buster; we set the policy on workplace agreements – not you." A press release was authorised by John Halden - that gentleman with a glittering indifference to the truth. I will read out how Labor policy is formed. John Halden said that policy within the Australian Labor Party is not made by directors or the leadership but by resolutions originating from branches, affiliated unions and individual party members. The Leader of the Opposition can say what he likes; 60 per cent of his party’s members come from the union movement. Members should make no mistake: The Labor Party's policy on workplace agreements will not be what the Leader of the Opposition says it will be, but what the union movement tells him it will be. It is a compliment that the Leader of the Opposition wants to backflip on workplace agreements. He is trying to fudge this issue and give the impression that the Labor Party can be all things to all people.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. Yes, representations have come from a wide range of industries and not just from the mining industry. A good example of the support for the workplace agreements legislation is the new food processing facility opened by the Prime Minister for Kailis and France Pty Ltd. The owners of that facility said they could not have made that investment, which employs over 300 people, without the flexibility that has been provided by the workplace agreements legislation. It is rather interesting that, literally, the Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues went to the barricades on the workplace agreements legislation. Can members remember the debates in this Parliament and the people who tried to take over this Parliament? Dr Gallop: We will have great fun introducing the repeal Bill. Mr COURT: In debate on 10 August 1993 the Leader of the Opposition said - ^The Opposition intends to use all of its energies to fight this legislation, not only now in Parliament, but also outside this Parliament. We will be reminding the working people of this State over the next three years what this Government has done to try to reduce their working conditions in an attempt to undermine the very civilisation that has made Australia a unique country. The labour relations spokesperson, the member for Nollamara, said in the same debate - ^The changes proposed in the industrial relations legislation and particularly in the Workplace Agreements Bill are an attack on the working conditions and living standards of the people of Western Australia. There is no doubt that families in Western Australia will suffer if the Minister for Labour Relations has his way and this legislation becomes law. It is interesting that members opposite have said they will repeal the workplace agreements legislation. However, the Labor Party is saying to industry that although it will repeal the workplace agreements legislation, nudge nudge, wink wink, it will bring in some other legislation that will allow industry to do what it is doing now anyway. Dr Gallop: No, I am not. Mr COURT: Yes, the Leader of the Opposition is saying that now. He went to the federal Labor Party conference that decided that that party would abolish individual contracts. Mr Kobelke: No, we will not. You do not know what you are talking about. Mr COURT: That is now Labor Party policy. The Leader of the Opposition is saying that he wants to do things differently in Western Australia. The Leader of the Opposition has gone out into the workplace and found out that more than 200 000 people have workplace agreements and do not mind working under those agreements. The Leader of the Opposition is now changing his position and saying that his policy - not the Labor Party's policy, but his policy - in effect will allow workplace agreements. Dr Gallop: You have got it wrong. Your workplace agreements system is a scandal and we will get rid of it. Mr COURT: The Leader of the Opposition got mugged in Hobart. I will read out the names of the people involved in that conference: Australian Council of Trade Unions president Sharan Burrow; the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association national secretary Joe de Bruyn and state secretary Joe Bullock - we know him well; Metals and Engineering Workers Union state secretary Jock Ferguson; Australian Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union state secretary, Helen Creed and national secretary Geoff Lawrence; and the Builders Labourers and Plasterers Union assistant state secretary Kim Young. They said to the Leader of the Opposition, "We’re sorry buster; we set the policy on workplace agreements – not you." A press release was authorised by John Halden - that gentleman with a glittering indifference to the truth. I will read out how Labor policy is formed. John Halden said that policy within the Australian Labor Party is not made by directors or the leadership but by resolutions originating from branches, affiliated unions and individual party members. The Leader of the Opposition can say what he likes; 60 per cent of his party’s members come from the union movement. Members should make no mistake: The Labor Party's policy on workplace agreements will not be what the Leader of the Opposition says it will be, but what the union movement tells him it will be. It is a compliment that the Leader of the Opposition wants to backflip on workplace agreements. He is trying to fudge this issue and give the impression that the Labor Party can be all things to all people.
It is rather interesting that, literally, the Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues went to the barricades on the workplace agreements legislation. Can members remember the debates in this Parliament and the people who tried to take over this Parliament? Dr Gallop: We will have great fun introducing the repeal Bill. Mr COURT: In debate on 10 August 1993 the Leader of the Opposition said - ^The Opposition intends to use all of its energies to fight this legislation, not only now in Parliament, but also outside this Parliament. We will be reminding the working people of this State over the next three years what this Government has done to try to reduce their working conditions in an attempt to undermine the very civilisation that has made Australia a unique country. The labour relations spokesperson, the member for Nollamara, said in the same debate - ^The changes proposed in the industrial relations legislation and particularly in the Workplace Agreements Bill are an attack on the working conditions and living standards of the people of Western Australia. There is no doubt that families in Western Australia will suffer if the Minister for Labour Relations has his way and this legislation becomes law. It is interesting that members opposite have said they will repeal the workplace agreements legislation. However, the Labor Party is saying to industry that although it will repeal the workplace agreements legislation, nudge nudge, wink wink, it will bring in some other legislation that will allow industry to do what it is doing now anyway. Dr Gallop: No, I am not. Mr COURT: Yes, the Leader of the Opposition is saying that now. He went to the federal Labor Party conference that decided that that party would abolish individual contracts. Mr Kobelke: No, we will not. You do not know what you are talking about. Mr COURT: That is now Labor Party policy. The Leader of the Opposition is saying that he wants to do things differently in Western Australia. The Leader of the Opposition has gone out into the workplace and found out that more than 200 000 people have workplace agreements and do not mind working under those agreements. The Leader of the Opposition is now changing his position and saying that his policy - not the Labor Party's policy, but his policy - in effect will allow workplace agreements. Dr Gallop: You have got it wrong. Your workplace agreements system is a scandal and we will get rid of it. Mr COURT: The Leader of the Opposition got mugged in Hobart. I will read out the names of the people involved in that conference: Australian Council of Trade Unions president Sharan Burrow; the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association national secretary Joe de Bruyn and state secretary Joe Bullock - we know him well; Metals and Engineering Workers Union state secretary Jock Ferguson; Australian Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union state secretary, Helen Creed and national secretary Geoff Lawrence; and the Builders Labourers and Plasterers Union assistant state secretary Kim Young. They said to the Leader of the Opposition, "We’re sorry buster; we set the policy on workplace agreements – not you." A press release was authorised by John Halden - that gentleman with a glittering indifference to the truth. I will read out how Labor policy is formed. John Halden said that policy within the Australian Labor Party is not made by directors or the leadership but by resolutions originating from branches, affiliated unions and individual party members. The Leader of the Opposition can say what he likes; 60 per cent of his party’s members come from the union movement. Members should make no mistake: The Labor Party's policy on workplace agreements will not be what the Leader of the Opposition says it will be, but what the union movement tells him it will be. It is a compliment that the Leader of the Opposition wants to backflip on workplace agreements. He is trying to fudge this issue and give the impression that the Labor Party can be all things to all people.
Dr Gallop: We will have great fun introducing the repeal Bill. Mr COURT: In debate on 10 August 1993 the Leader of the Opposition said - ^The Opposition intends to use all of its energies to fight this legislation, not only now in Parliament, but also outside this Parliament. We will be reminding the working people of this State over the next three years what this Government has done to try to reduce their working conditions in an attempt to undermine the very civilisation that has made Australia a unique country. The labour relations spokesperson, the member for Nollamara, said in the same debate - ^The changes proposed in the industrial relations legislation and particularly in the Workplace Agreements Bill are an attack on the working conditions and living standards of the people of Western Australia. There is no doubt that families in Western Australia will suffer if the Minister for Labour Relations has his way and this legislation becomes law. It is interesting that members opposite have said they will repeal the workplace agreements legislation. However, the Labor Party is saying to industry that although it will repeal the workplace agreements legislation, nudge nudge, wink wink, it will bring in some other legislation that will allow industry to do what it is doing now anyway. Dr Gallop: No, I am not. Mr COURT: Yes, the Leader of the Opposition is saying that now. He went to the federal Labor Party conference that decided that that party would abolish individual contracts. Mr Kobelke: No, we will not. You do not know what you are talking about. Mr COURT: That is now Labor Party policy. The Leader of the Opposition is saying that he wants to do things differently in Western Australia. The Leader of the Opposition has gone out into the workplace and found out that more than 200 000 people have workplace agreements and do not mind working under those agreements. The Leader of the Opposition is now changing his position and saying that his policy - not the Labor Party's policy, but his policy - in effect will allow workplace agreements. Dr Gallop: You have got it wrong. Your workplace agreements system is a scandal and we will get rid of it. Mr COURT: The Leader of the Opposition got mugged in Hobart. I will read out the names of the people involved in that conference: Australian Council of Trade Unions president Sharan Burrow; the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association national secretary Joe de Bruyn and state secretary Joe Bullock - we know him well; Metals and Engineering Workers Union state secretary Jock Ferguson; Australian Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union state secretary, Helen Creed and national secretary Geoff Lawrence; and the Builders Labourers and Plasterers Union assistant state secretary Kim Young. They said to the Leader of the Opposition, "We’re sorry buster; we set the policy on workplace agreements – not you." A press release was authorised by John Halden - that gentleman with a glittering indifference to the truth. I will read out how Labor policy is formed. John Halden said that policy within the Australian Labor Party is not made by directors or the leadership but by resolutions originating from branches, affiliated unions and individual party members. The Leader of the Opposition can say what he likes; 60 per cent of his party’s members come from the union movement. Members should make no mistake: The Labor Party's policy on workplace agreements will not be what the Leader of the Opposition says it will be, but what the union movement tells him it will be. It is a compliment that the Leader of the Opposition wants to backflip on workplace agreements. He is trying to fudge this issue and give the impression that the Labor Party can be all things to all people.
Mr COURT: In debate on 10 August 1993 the Leader of the Opposition said - ^The Opposition intends to use all of its energies to fight this legislation, not only now in Parliament, but also outside this Parliament. We will be reminding the working people of this State over the next three years what this Government has done to try to reduce their working conditions in an attempt to undermine the very civilisation that has made Australia a unique country. The labour relations spokesperson, the member for Nollamara, said in the same debate - ^The changes proposed in the industrial relations legislation and particularly in the Workplace Agreements Bill are an attack on the working conditions and living standards of the people of Western Australia. There is no doubt that families in Western Australia will suffer if the Minister for Labour Relations has his way and this legislation becomes law. It is interesting that members opposite have said they will repeal the workplace agreements legislation. However, the Labor Party is saying to industry that although it will repeal the workplace agreements legislation, nudge nudge, wink wink, it will bring in some other legislation that will allow industry to do what it is doing now anyway. Dr Gallop: No, I am not. Mr COURT: Yes, the Leader of the Opposition is saying that now. He went to the federal Labor Party conference that decided that that party would abolish individual contracts. Mr Kobelke: No, we will not. You do not know what you are talking about. Mr COURT: That is now Labor Party policy. The Leader of the Opposition is saying that he wants to do things differently in Western Australia. The Leader of the Opposition has gone out into the workplace and found out that more than 200 000 people have workplace agreements and do not mind working under those agreements. The Leader of the Opposition is now changing his position and saying that his policy - not the Labor Party's policy, but his policy - in effect will allow workplace agreements. Dr Gallop: You have got it wrong. Your workplace agreements system is a scandal and we will get rid of it. Mr COURT: The Leader of the Opposition got mugged in Hobart. I will read out the names of the people involved in that conference: Australian Council of Trade Unions president Sharan Burrow; the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association national secretary Joe de Bruyn and state secretary Joe Bullock - we know him well; Metals and Engineering Workers Union state secretary Jock Ferguson; Australian Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union state secretary, Helen Creed and national secretary Geoff Lawrence; and the Builders Labourers and Plasterers Union assistant state secretary Kim Young. They said to the Leader of the Opposition, "We’re sorry buster; we set the policy on workplace agreements – not you." A press release was authorised by John Halden - that gentleman with a glittering indifference to the truth. I will read out how Labor policy is formed. John Halden said that policy within the Australian Labor Party is not made by directors or the leadership but by resolutions originating from branches, affiliated unions and individual party members. The Leader of the Opposition can say what he likes; 60 per cent of his party’s members come from the union movement. Members should make no mistake: The Labor Party's policy on workplace agreements will not be what the Leader of the Opposition says it will be, but what the union movement tells him it will be. It is a compliment that the Leader of the Opposition wants to backflip on workplace agreements. He is trying to fudge this issue and give the impression that the Labor Party can be all things to all people.
Dr Gallop: No, I am not. Mr COURT: Yes, the Leader of the Opposition is saying that now. He went to the federal Labor Party conference that decided that that party would abolish individual contracts. Mr Kobelke: No, we will not. You do not know what you are talking about. Mr COURT: That is now Labor Party policy. The Leader of the Opposition is saying that he wants to do things differently in Western Australia. The Leader of the Opposition has gone out into the workplace and found out that more than 200 000 people have workplace agreements and do not mind working under those agreements. The Leader of the Opposition is now changing his position and saying that his policy - not the Labor Party's policy, but his policy - in effect will allow workplace agreements. Dr Gallop: You have got it wrong. Your workplace agreements system is a scandal and we will get rid of it. Mr COURT: The Leader of the Opposition got mugged in Hobart. I will read out the names of the people involved in that conference: Australian Council of Trade Unions president Sharan Burrow; the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association national secretary Joe de Bruyn and state secretary Joe Bullock - we know him well; Metals and Engineering Workers Union state secretary Jock Ferguson; Australian Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union state secretary, Helen Creed and national secretary Geoff Lawrence; and the Builders Labourers and Plasterers Union assistant state secretary Kim Young. They said to the Leader of the Opposition, "We’re sorry buster; we set the policy on workplace agreements – not you." A press release was authorised by John Halden - that gentleman with a glittering indifference to the truth. I will read out how Labor policy is formed. John Halden said that policy within the Australian Labor Party is not made by directors or the leadership but by resolutions originating from branches, affiliated unions and individual party members. The Leader of the Opposition can say what he likes; 60 per cent of his party’s members come from the union movement. Members should make no mistake: The Labor Party's policy on workplace agreements will not be what the Leader of the Opposition says it will be, but what the union movement tells him it will be. It is a compliment that the Leader of the Opposition wants to backflip on workplace agreements. He is trying to fudge this issue and give the impression that the Labor Party can be all things to all people.
Mr COURT: Yes, the Leader of the Opposition is saying that now. He went to the federal Labor Party conference that decided that that party would abolish individual contracts. Mr Kobelke: No, we will not. You do not know what you are talking about. Mr COURT: That is now Labor Party policy. The Leader of the Opposition is saying that he wants to do things differently in Western Australia. The Leader of the Opposition has gone out into the workplace and found out that more than 200 000 people have workplace agreements and do not mind working under those agreements. The Leader of the Opposition is now changing his position and saying that his policy - not the Labor Party's policy, but his policy - in effect will allow workplace agreements. Dr Gallop: You have got it wrong. Your workplace agreements system is a scandal and we will get rid of it. Mr COURT: The Leader of the Opposition got mugged in Hobart. I will read out the names of the people involved in that conference: Australian Council of Trade Unions president Sharan Burrow; the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association national secretary Joe de Bruyn and state secretary Joe Bullock - we know him well; Metals and Engineering Workers Union state secretary Jock Ferguson; Australian Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union state secretary, Helen Creed and national secretary Geoff Lawrence; and the Builders Labourers and Plasterers Union assistant state secretary Kim Young. They said to the Leader of the Opposition, "We’re sorry buster; we set the policy on workplace agreements – not you." A press release was authorised by John Halden - that gentleman with a glittering indifference to the truth. I will read out how Labor policy is formed. John Halden said that policy within the Australian Labor Party is not made by directors or the leadership but by resolutions originating from branches, affiliated unions and individual party members. The Leader of the Opposition can say what he likes; 60 per cent of his party’s members come from the union movement. Members should make no mistake: The Labor Party's policy on workplace agreements will not be what the Leader of the Opposition says it will be, but what the union movement tells him it will be. It is a compliment that the Leader of the Opposition wants to backflip on workplace agreements. He is trying to fudge this issue and give the impression that the Labor Party can be all things to all people.
Mr Kobelke: No, we will not. You do not know what you are talking about. Mr COURT: That is now Labor Party policy. The Leader of the Opposition is saying that he wants to do things differently in Western Australia. The Leader of the Opposition has gone out into the workplace and found out that more than 200 000 people have workplace agreements and do not mind working under those agreements. The Leader of the Opposition is now changing his position and saying that his policy - not the Labor Party's policy, but his policy - in effect will allow workplace agreements. Dr Gallop: You have got it wrong. Your workplace agreements system is a scandal and we will get rid of it. Mr COURT: The Leader of the Opposition got mugged in Hobart. I will read out the names of the people involved in that conference: Australian Council of Trade Unions president Sharan Burrow; the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association national secretary Joe de Bruyn and state secretary Joe Bullock - we know him well; Metals and Engineering Workers Union state secretary Jock Ferguson; Australian Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union state secretary, Helen Creed and national secretary Geoff Lawrence; and the Builders Labourers and Plasterers Union assistant state secretary Kim Young. They said to the Leader of the Opposition, "We’re sorry buster; we set the policy on workplace agreements – not you." A press release was authorised by John Halden - that gentleman with a glittering indifference to the truth. I will read out how Labor policy is formed. John Halden said that policy within the Australian Labor Party is not made by directors or the leadership but by resolutions originating from branches, affiliated unions and individual party members. The Leader of the Opposition can say what he likes; 60 per cent of his party’s members come from the union movement. Members should make no mistake: The Labor Party's policy on workplace agreements will not be what the Leader of the Opposition says it will be, but what the union movement tells him it will be. It is a compliment that the Leader of the Opposition wants to backflip on workplace agreements. He is trying to fudge this issue and give the impression that the Labor Party can be all things to all people.
Mr COURT: That is now Labor Party policy. The Leader of the Opposition is saying that he wants to do things differently in Western Australia. The Leader of the Opposition has gone out into the workplace and found out that more than 200 000 people have workplace agreements and do not mind working under those agreements. The Leader of the Opposition is now changing his position and saying that his policy - not the Labor Party's policy, but his policy - in effect will allow workplace agreements. Dr Gallop: You have got it wrong. Your workplace agreements system is a scandal and we will get rid of it. Mr COURT: The Leader of the Opposition got mugged in Hobart. I will read out the names of the people involved in that conference: Australian Council of Trade Unions president Sharan Burrow; the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association national secretary Joe de Bruyn and state secretary Joe Bullock - we know him well; Metals and Engineering Workers Union state secretary Jock Ferguson; Australian Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union state secretary, Helen Creed and national secretary Geoff Lawrence; and the Builders Labourers and Plasterers Union assistant state secretary Kim Young. They said to the Leader of the Opposition, "We’re sorry buster; we set the policy on workplace agreements – not you." A press release was authorised by John Halden - that gentleman with a glittering indifference to the truth. I will read out how Labor policy is formed. John Halden said that policy within the Australian Labor Party is not made by directors or the leadership but by resolutions originating from branches, affiliated unions and individual party members. The Leader of the Opposition can say what he likes; 60 per cent of his party’s members come from the union movement. Members should make no mistake: The Labor Party's policy on workplace agreements will not be what the Leader of the Opposition says it will be, but what the union movement tells him it will be. It is a compliment that the Leader of the Opposition wants to backflip on workplace agreements. He is trying to fudge this issue and give the impression that the Labor Party can be all things to all people.
Dr Gallop: You have got it wrong. Your workplace agreements system is a scandal and we will get rid of it. Mr COURT: The Leader of the Opposition got mugged in Hobart. I will read out the names of the people involved in that conference: Australian Council of Trade Unions president Sharan Burrow; the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association national secretary Joe de Bruyn and state secretary Joe Bullock - we know him well; Metals and Engineering Workers Union state secretary Jock Ferguson; Australian Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union state secretary, Helen Creed and national secretary Geoff Lawrence; and the Builders Labourers and Plasterers Union assistant state secretary Kim Young. They said to the Leader of the Opposition, "We’re sorry buster; we set the policy on workplace agreements – not you." A press release was authorised by John Halden - that gentleman with a glittering indifference to the truth. I will read out how Labor policy is formed. John Halden said that policy within the Australian Labor Party is not made by directors or the leadership but by resolutions originating from branches, affiliated unions and individual party members. The Leader of the Opposition can say what he likes; 60 per cent of his party’s members come from the union movement. Members should make no mistake: The Labor Party's policy on workplace agreements will not be what the Leader of the Opposition says it will be, but what the union movement tells him it will be. It is a compliment that the Leader of the Opposition wants to backflip on workplace agreements. He is trying to fudge this issue and give the impression that the Labor Party can be all things to all people.
Mr COURT: The Leader of the Opposition got mugged in Hobart. I will read out the names of the people involved in that conference: Australian Council of Trade Unions president Sharan Burrow; the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association national secretary Joe de Bruyn and state secretary Joe Bullock - we know him well; Metals and Engineering Workers Union state secretary Jock Ferguson; Australian Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union state secretary, Helen Creed and national secretary Geoff Lawrence; and the Builders Labourers and Plasterers Union assistant state secretary Kim Young. They said to the Leader of the Opposition, "We’re sorry buster; we set the policy on workplace agreements – not you." A press release was authorised by John Halden - that gentleman with a glittering indifference to the truth. I will read out how Labor policy is formed. John Halden said that policy within the Australian Labor Party is not made by directors or the leadership but by resolutions originating from branches, affiliated unions and individual party members. The Leader of the Opposition can say what he likes; 60 per cent of his party’s members come from the union movement. Members should make no mistake: The Labor Party's policy on workplace agreements will not be what the Leader of the Opposition says it will be, but what the union movement tells him it will be. It is a compliment that the Leader of the Opposition wants to backflip on workplace agreements. He is trying to fudge this issue and give the impression that the Labor Party can be all things to all people.
A press release was authorised by John Halden - that gentleman with a glittering indifference to the truth. I will read out how Labor policy is formed. John Halden said that policy within the Australian Labor Party is not made by directors or the leadership but by resolutions originating from branches, affiliated unions and individual party members. The Leader of the Opposition can say what he likes; 60 per cent of his party’s members come from the union movement. Members should make no mistake: The Labor Party's policy on workplace agreements will not be what the Leader of the Opposition says it will be, but what the union movement tells him it will be. It is a compliment that the Leader of the Opposition wants to backflip on workplace agreements. He is trying to fudge this issue and give the impression that the Labor Party can be all things to all people.
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