Page 865 - Week 03 - Thursday, 30 March 2006
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Ms MacDonald: On the point of order—
MR SPEAKER: The effect of a law on the community is surely something the Attorney-General can—
Mrs Dunne: On the point of order: that would be providing a legal opinion.
Ms MacDonald: On the point of order, Mr Speaker: you have in this place previously ruled—
MR SPEAKER: Read the question, please.
Ms MacDonald: What impact are these changes likely to have on the community?
Mrs Burke: Likely to have. Under standing order 117—
Mrs Dunne: On the point of order: that is hypothetical.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, it is a hypothetical question.
Ms MacDonald: I can rephrase it, then. What impact are these changes having on the community?
Mrs Burke: No. It is hypothetical.
MR SPEAKER: For the last time: you can rephrase the question. That is fifty-fifty, one each way.
Ms MacDonald: Chief Minister, what impact are these changes having on the community?
MR STANHOPE: There are significant, quite savage impacts on the community, and many have occurred. We see them in relation to decisions that unions and workers will be taking in relation to the long-held right to strike, for instance. The impact now is that if you stop work for 10 minutes or go out on strike or take action for four minutes, you are docked four hours pay. This is classic Orwellian legislation. No matter how long you go out in pursuit of a legitimate workplace objective, you are docked four hours pay!
It is interesting that in the last round of EBA negotiations in this place at some stage some heat developed and the threat of industrial action emanated from the office of the Leader of the Opposition. In the next round of negotiations it will be interesting to see not just the staff of the opposition, but also members of the opposition wandering off to negotiate individual agreements with Mr Smyth. Of course, Liberal Party members and their staff no longer embrace the notion of collective bargaining and will not be involving themselves in the next round of EBA negotiations. It will be fascinating to see Mr Smyth negotiating the basis on which Mr Mulcahy and Mrs Dunne might be employed; if not them, certainly their staff.
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