26/05/05
Western Australian workers and their families will be ripped off and lose job security if the Senate allows John Howard's divisive and extreme changes to the country's industrial relations system, Consumer and Employment Protection Minister John Kobelke said today.
Mr Kobelke said the Prime Minister was moving to decimate pay and employment security for Western Australian workers and reduce the State's workplace safety standards.
"His proposal announced today to remove unfair dismissal protection from employees in organisations of fewer than 100 workers will exclude 99 per cent of WA employers and 65 per cent of WA workers from the unfair dismissal provisions," he said.
"John Howard justifies his changes as essential 'if we are to prosper in the 21st century' and yet his extreme right-wing labour relations ideology would actually take us right back to the exploitation of the 19th century industrial revolution.
"These proposals will do nothing to improve efficiency and productivity in Australian workplaces, they are simply an arrogant Prime Minister imposing his personal extreme political views on industrial relations.
"Unlike the Howard Government, the Gallop Government recognises that in a 21st century democratic society it is essential for workers to be able to organise and bargain collectively through their trade unions.
"Endemic in the Howard proposals are attacks on the ability of unions to organise and represent their members.
"The arrogant destruction of employee rights will encourage unfair and discriminatory practices, which will mean that workers will be able to be summarily sacked if they rightfully stand up for safe and healthy work practices and fair conditions of employment.
"In a modern, progressive society, this is simply unconscionable."
Mr Kobelke said Mr Howard was attempting a hostile, unnecessary takeover of the WA industrial relations system.
"The attempted takeover of the States' industrial relations jurisdictions is part of a pattern of increasing and unwarranted Federal intervention in legitimate State functions including health, education, tax, water and the ports," the Minister said.
He said the Gallop Government would band with the other Australian States to protect the interests of Western Australia's workers and businesses.
"Our Government will always put WA first," Mr Kobelke said.
"I call on all WA Coalition MPs to impress upon the Howard Government the serious implications for WA and the future of federalism if the Federal Government continues in its attempts to take over the rights and responsibilities of the State of WA."
Minister's office: 9222 9211
