Page 265 - Week 01 - Thursday, 24 February 1994
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MR CONNOLLY: It is the view of the Government. The position yesterday that was sorted out by Mr Townsend was the position of the Government. We have taken a unified position on this all along. I have been saying all along that I am confident that we can deliver progress here, but we must do it in such a way that it does not prejudice whole-of-government approaches to industrial relations. That is what we have done. We have a proven track record, Madam Speaker. These little people opposite have no understanding of how to run government. They were a failure when they ran government. The deficits were flying out of control in public transport. When you were Chief Minister and Treasurer, Mr Kaine, you were a failure. We are delivering. Our ACTION budget has come in on target every year. We will continue to do so. We will reduce it by 20 per cent, through an enlightened approach to industrial relations.
Public Holidays
MR LAMONT: My question is directed to the Deputy Chief Minister in his capacity as Minister for Industrial Relations. Could the Minister inform the Assembly whether or not the Government will support moves to rationalise the number of public holidays in the ACT?
MR BERRY: The Liberals opposite would seek to remove public holidays from workers. There is no question about that. That has always been their stand - "Fewer holidays; they are too well off; we want to reduce their wages and working conditions". The ACT Government supports moves to ensure equality of treatment for Australian workers as regards public holiday observance. The ACT Government does not support attacks by some State governments - Liberal governments - and employers - conservative employers - seeking to reduce the number of public holidays which workers enjoy. These attacks do nothing to provide a proper base for enterprise bargaining in Australia. Therefore, the ACT Government will be making submissions in the forthcoming review of public holiday observance by a Full Bench of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission. In those submissions we will be supporting the development of a standard clause for incorporation in Federal awards that would confirm the basic public holidays currently enjoyed by all workers - - -
Mr De Domenico: Including the trade union picnic day.
MR BERRY: And the substitution arrangements by which additional days are observed when public holidays, other than Anzac Day, fall on a weekend day. In addition, the clause should provide capacity for the observance of established local holidays, such as Canberra Day and Labour Day in the ACT. The establishment of certainty for employers and employees over the public holiday observance, together with other minimum employment condition standards laid down in the Industrial Relations Reform Act, will create a platform for constructive enterprise bargaining.
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