
Issue No 41		26 November 1999

LaborNET	Ask Neale	Tool of the Week

News

Democrats Poised to Say No

The Australian Democrats are poised to block the bulk of Peter Reith's second wave industrial relations reforms, with a critical report to be tabled in the Senate this week.

Labor sources are confident the Democrats will signal their opposition to key proposals including secret ballots before industrial action and further paring back awards.

The report, following national hearings by a Senate Committee, will be tabled Monday.

In a further encouraging sign for trade union, the Democrats last week agreed to block the plan to divert industrial matters from the Federal Court to the new jurisdiction.

A group of unionists from Sydney will travel to Canberra to join protests against the Wave.

Unions argue the Second Wave will further weaken the award safety net, undermine the powers of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission and make it harder for trade unions to conduct their legitimate activities.

The Democrats have flagged they have major problems with the legislative package, but Labor says it won't be taking anything for granted until the Bill is defeated.

Labor's industrial relations spokesman Arch Bevis says the proposal was a backdoor attempt to punish the Federal Court for delivering Peter Reith a series of humiliating defeats, including the waterfront fiasco last year.

"While Labor supported the creation of a Federal Magistrates Court to assist with a backlog of cases in the Family Court, we would not support judicial forum shopping in industrial relations matters," Bevis says.

"The attempt by the Government to punish the Federal Court is consistent with Mr Reith's attack on the Australian Industrial Relations Commission. Clearly Mr Reith doesn't like independent umpires.

"This is just another example of Mr Reith's biased and divisive approach to industrial relations."

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Issue 41 contents

Interview: A Bob Each Way
ALP tactician Bob McMullan is responsible for charting Labor industry policy into the next millennium. He tells us where he�s heading.

Unions: Organiser of the Year
Just ten days to go before entries close for our $2000 air ticket. Here�s another nomination.

History: Labour Daze
A report from the 6th National Biennial Conference of the Australian Society For The Study Of Labour and Community.

Politics: Tomorrow�s Questions
While the turn of the century sees Sydney play host to the Olympic games, the International Youth Parliament 2000 will bring world focus to contemporary issues facing young people.

Health: Red Ribbons
December 1, World AIDS Day has a special place in the history of the AIDS pandemic.

International: Organised Chaos
Persistent rumours are floating around Jakarta that the former boss of the official pro-Soeharto Indonesian trade union movement is about to be charged with corruption.

Economics: Seattle Numbers Grow for WTO Protest
News of the agreement to smooth China�s entry to the World Trade Organisation has created its own "China Syndrome" for organisers of the Seattle WTO event.

Satire: Too Many Media Players!
The Productivity Commission has issued a report calling for the abolition of existing cross-media ownership laws.

Review: Leviathan
John Birmingham has lifted the lid on Sydney�s shady past - and found trade unions to be at the centre of the sordid tales.

Deface a Face: Reith Loses His Shine
With his Second Wave looking more like a splash in the bath-tub, Workplace Relations Minister Peter Reith still reigns as the union movement�s favourite bogeyman.

» Labor Hire Faces Deregulation

» Democrats Poised to Say No

» Olympic Job Cut Fears

» Inspectors to Act on Ships of Shame

» Grave Concerns About Body Bags

» Former Trades Hall Boss Into Teachers Fray

» Tools for Timor Plea

» Rio Tinto Sacks 84 for Christmas Eve

» Hotel Workers in Unprecedented Action

» Tug Action Hits Sydney Harbour

» Free National Parks Access as Bans Kick In

» Parkers Issue Ticket To Loitering Government

» Stop Forced Repatriation of Burmese Migrant Workers

» Will the Real Casual Workers Please Stand Up?

» STOP PRESS: Labor Wins NZ Election