Fed: Fed govt in the way of unitary workplace system: Murray

AAP General News (Australia)
12-01-2004
Fed: Fed govt in the way of unitary workplace system: Murray

CANBERRA, Dec 1 AAP - The federal government was obstructing its own desire for a single
workplace relations system in Australia by political meddling, Australian Democrats employment
relations spokesman Andrew Murray said today.

Senator Murray, whose party's vote is still crucial to the passage of controversial
legislation in the Senate, said he had not yet seen a new bill promised by the government
to restrict unions from circumventing federal right-of-entry laws by using state laws.

The federal laws would restrict unions right to enter worksites.

"But the basic principle is, you shouldn't have two sets of laws governing right of
entry on the same worksite," he told reporters.

"It is absolutely ridiculous that police are called in to circumstances and don't know
whether the state or the federal laws apply."

Senator Murray said he did not care much which system was adopted, but that it should be one.

"Personally, I think we need just one industrial relations law for the country, and
that's the position of the Democrats.

"The government's problem is it mixes up political ideology with what is necessary
and practical move.

"It kind of obstructs the ability to negotiate these things."

AAP dep/sb/cjh/bwl

KEYWORD: WORKPLACE

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