
Issue No 73		13 October 2000

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News

Reith's Wharf Secrets Return To Haunt

By John Coombs, MUA National Secretary

Not only is Reith under attack in parliament, in public and in the media over the rorting of his government Telecard, it now looks almost certain that his involvement with the Dubai debacle, the Patrick Dispute and the mass sacking of 2000 MUA members can not be kept secret much longer.

On October 10 the full bench of the Federal Court dismissed an appeal by the minister to suppress secret cabinet documents relating to the Government's role in the waterfront conspiracy. No doubt the minister will appeal to the High Court, but he is only delaying the inevitable. The courts could well force the Government to release its confidential documents about his role in the murky affair.

The documents by Dr Stephen Webster centre on the diabolical plot to train industrial mercenaries in Dubai to take over the wharves once the entire MUA workforce had been sacked.

In the lead up to the mass sackings the Workplace Relations Minister ran a propaganda campaign in the media, plugging the 'rort of the day' on his official website and distributing The Fat Little Book of MUA Rorts far and wide. The irony has not escaped the media.

"In the light of his attacks on union rorts Peter Reith's political career should be over. He showed contempt for taxpayers' money for at least five years - a rort a day for 1826 days.... He has kept his job, while demanding employers have a right to sack errant workers for less." ("Phone Scam Strips Reith of Credibility", The Australian, 12/10/00)

"It was the docks dispute that cemented Mr Reith in the unofficial portfolio of chief rort buster... Yesterday, Mr Reith's long career as a serial rort-buster came home to roost. Leading a debate in parliament, Labor's finance spokesman, Mr Lindsay Tanner, said Mr Reith's behaviour was "awash with double standards". (Rorts Book back to haunt Reith", The Financial Review 12/10/00)

Of course, Peter Reith is not the first minister to take on the MUA by running the line of rorts on the waterfront only to have it backfire. MUA members have not forgotten the ignoble end of the former minister for transport John Sharp. Second only to Reith for wharfie bashing, Sharp's political career came unstuck over rorting his travel allowance in 1997. And now a third union basher Health Minister Dr Wooldridge looks set to follow in his Coalition colleagues footsteps for wining and dining at the taxpayers expense. The bill? Around $35,000.

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Issue 73 contents

Interview: Righting The Wrongs
Improving the lives of Aboriginal people can't be taken out of the context of the economy, welfare and other areas says Bob McMullan, Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs.

Economics: At The Mercy Of Gamblers
The plunge of the Australian dollar relative to the greenback has consequences for Aussie workers according to Frank Stillwell.

History: Labour History Under Seige Again
The Friends of the Noel Butlin Archives Centre have recently been informed of proposed changes to the Noel Butlin Archives Centre (NBAC), changes that will cut staff by more than 50% and leave the Archives mothballed in the tunnel where the repository is situated.

Workplace: Fighting The Flexible Firm
We are told that hardship and exploitation at work is dying out, and the new economy offers opportunity, freedom and job satisfaction for all. Richard Sennett unveils the true nature of the flexible workplace.

Safety: Being bossed around is bad for your health
A survey of more than 3,000 Australian workers has revealed that some 54% of workers experience intimidating behaviour in their workplace. In almost 85% of cases it is employers, managers and supervisors who are identified as the culprits.

Unions: Discrimination
New to the union and the maritime industry and with only a few days casual work to live off, Stephen Rolls courageously spoke up against individual contracts during a job interview with Burnie Port Corp.

International: Serbian Workers and Their Unions Fight for Freedom
Serbian workers and their unions have been at the forefront of the struggle for democracy in Yugoslavia as they led a general strike in response to attempts by President Slobodan Milosevic to nullify the defeat he faced in the Sept. 24 election.

Satire: A few more years of civilised brutality will advantage Aborigines: Ruddock
CANBERRA, Tuesday: The Minister for Reconciliation Philip Ruddock has defended his comments to French newspaper Le Monde claiming that Aborigines were disadvantaged because they were late in coming into contact with developed civilisations.

Review: Poetry For Workers By Workers
Poems about the trials and tribulations of a waitress and what you learn in a chocolate factory are among the gems from the 925 anthology.

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