
Issue No 57		09 June 2000

LaborNET	Ask Neale	Tool of the Week

Tool Shed

The Slug Man Cometh

By Dermot Browne

Ever heard of Alan Cadman? No. Well don't fret, neither had we until last week. He is an old, time-serving HR Nicholls fan and Liberal member for Mitchell.

Why should you care? Because he recently made the following speech in support of Peter Reith's doomed Workplace Relations Amendment Bill.

"With the election of this government, we seized the opportunity to say, `Let's trust the workers to negotiate for themselves with the bosses and see what the results are.' The results are obvious-an increase in wages and in productivity. You have those rotten slugs from the union movement, who drive around in their cars, sit in flash offices and contribute nothing to the process, except create division, intervention and problems where there are none, out of the way."

News of this devastatingly witty outburst spread around the union movement like wildfire. One of the CPSU's more 'sensitive new age' officials, Mark Gepp from the Community Services Section, took particular umbrage and was compelled to write to the honourable Mr Cadman demanding an explanation.

****************

Dear Mr Cadman,

I read your contribution to the Workplace Relations Bill, Second Reading debate on 1 June and, I seek clarification on your comments and their meaning. It is your particular ambiguous use of the word 'slugs' that I am interested in. The Concise Oxford Dictionary contains four meanings of the word:

� Shell- less gastropod often destructive to small plants

� Bullet of irregular shape

� Unit of mass given acceleration of 1 foot per second

� Tot of liquor

You can see my dilemma.

********************

Not to miss a trick, our Mr Cadman shot back the following reply.

Dear Mr Gepp

Thank you for your fax today in regard to my speech.....I appreciate your drawing my attention to the term "slugs" because I had not had the time to check the transcript of my speech. That term is not one I would and I believe I used the term "thugs". I can understand your dilemma and have asked Hansard to correct its record accordingly.

Your sincerely

ALAN CADMAN MP

****************

So now we know. And in case you were wondering what the Concise Oxford Dictionary says about 'thugs' ....

� a 'member of religious organisation of robbers and assassins in India suppressed about 1825', or

� a vicious or brutal ruffian.

So now everybody is happy.

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Issue 57 contents

Interview: Cocky Labor
On the eve of State Conference, Country Labor convenor Tony Kelly outlines how Labor is stealing the ground from under the National Party's feet.

Economics: Millenium Work Ethics - A New Social Partnership?
The future of work in the twenty-first century will be both provocative and challenging, according to Professor Russell Lansbury.

Politics: Extracting the Digit
Labor's federal communications spokesman Stehpen Smith outlines the Party's position on the controversial datacasting legislation currently before Parliament.

History: Hot Off the Press
Check out what's in the latest issue of Labour History - A Journal of Labour and Social History,

International: The East Timor of Africa
Nobel laureate Jose Ramos Horta will this week tell a Sydney audience of the parallels between East Timor and the nation described as the last colony in Africa - the Western Sahara.

Environment: MUA Snail Men Honoured
Brisbane wharfies Lehi Munday and Mal Monro look an unlikely Watson and Sherlock double, but their keen detective work has helped win the Southern Queensland MUA Branch two national environment awards.

Satire: Howard Says 'Sorry'
In a startling apology to the Aboriginal community, Prime Minister John Howard said last night he was deeply sorry that he turned up to the Corroboree 2000 celebrations.

Review: Front Stage and Pulp Fiction
The Waterfront War has made the transition from industrial showdown to cultural icon. Now it's inspiring artists.

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