Page 3318 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 24 November 1992
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Preference to Union Members
MR DE DOMENICO: Madam Speaker, my question without notice is to the Minister for Industrial Relations, Mr Berry. Can the Minister assure the Assembly that the Labor Government has no plans to implement part 3.1.2 of the Labor Party's policy platform, which reads that an ACT Labor government will "legislate to provide that only union members benefit from improvements in pay and conditions won by trade union representation, and that unionists be given preference in filling vacancies and in promotions"? Is the Minister prepared to explain to the Assembly, and through it to the people who elected him and his Government, why this policy is in existence?
MR BERRY: That is out of order, you know.
Mr Humphries: Oh, he is going to take a point of order, is he?
MR BERRY: I do not have ministerial responsibility for the Labor Party. I can say to you that they are matters of policy which were generated within the Labor Party and they are taken into account from time to time as the Government moves along on the implementation of its platform. I suppose it depends on what is achievable in the circumstances. The policies which are set out in the platform are policies which we know about and which we were elected upon. It is not on our legislation program, but it is a policy that we will take into account as we develop our strategies throughout this period of government.
MR DE DOMENICO: I ask a supplementary question, Madam Speaker. Can the Minister assure the Assembly that currently, secretly or otherwise, no preference exists for the promotion of members of the ACT Government Service who are members of unions?
MR BERRY: It is pretty clear that the promotion system within the ACT public service is a merit system. It is a silly suggestion.
Health Services - Goods and Services Tax
MS ELLIS: Madam Speaker, my question is directed to the Deputy Chief Minister in his capacity as Minister for Health. What effect would the imposition of a goods and services tax have on the delivery of health services in the ACT?
Opposition members interjected.
MR BERRY: The members opposite laugh, but they obviously do not recognise the serious effect that not only the GST but the entire Hewson package will have on the community in the ACT.
Opposition members interjected.
MADAM SPEAKER: Order, please! The members on my right will desist from interjecting.
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