CRA dispute could jeopardise valuable export trade

16/11/95

Valuable export markets which Australians had worked hard to develop could be quickly lost unless unions and employers acted more in the national interest, Commerce and Trade and Small Business Minister Hendy Cowan said today.

"Every Australian exporter will be penalised to some degree by the reaction of unions to the dispute with CRA," Mr Cowan said.

"Worst hit will be the small to medium-sized businesses that the Western Australian Government has been encouraging to get into exports, so that jobs can be generated for young Australians. 

"These companies generally have limited working capital and, compared with larger companies, are less able to withstand disruption to their business.

"They will be severely strained by delays or cancellation of orders.

"It seems ludicrous that they should suffer as a result of a dispute in which they are in no way involved."

Mr Cowan said WA was Australia's biggest exporting State and the State with the most internationally oriented economy.

Its economy was diversifying through the addition of manufactures to its resources exports.

"In fact, manufacturing is one of the fastest-growing sectors in our economy," the Minister said.

"But this could be seriously jeopardised by ill-considered industrial action.

"It may be impossible to win back markets which have been creating the biggest opportunities for us.

"A national stoppage on the wharves, even the threat of such a stoppage, sends very unfavourable signals to our trading partners.

"The question of industrial relations invariably comes up during overseas trips which I undertake as Minister responsible for trade.

"However, the ultimate victims of this type of action are Australia's young unemployed whose best chance of work is with the vast number of small and medium enterprises, many of which have taken up the export challenge."

Media contact:  Peter Jackson 222 9595