Carter, John (SEN)
From:	Bernard Ellis [berlor@coscom.net]
Sent:	Thursday, 25 May 2000 5:18 PM
To:	eet.sen@aph.gov.au
Subject:	Workplace Relations Amendment Bill 2000
    I wish to exercise my entitlement to lodge objections to the abovementioned Bill in the strongest terms. 
The absolute unfairness of the provisions of said Bill cannot be emphasised strongly enough. This Bill seeks to destroy even the most pitiful bargaining positions that the employees now have access to.This Bill is a product of the fervid imaginings of Minister Reith , fanatic  and frantic in his endeavours to tip the balance of power even further in the favour of the employer. 
    Unfortunately , there can be no doubt that  the workplace is a battlefield and has been so since the beginning of "workplace" simply because of the philosophical and ideological difference between the employer and the employed.For a minister of the crown to use his position in the realm to unfairly alter the balance between the employer and the employed simply because of , and apparently , at the request of one over the other , smacks of  blatant misuse of the power vested in him/her.
    Further , for a minister of the crown to express , in the presence of a group of people representative of the employing class such a sentiment as the likes of ."................we(the government ) are on the side of the profit makers ........" is indicative of base intent and a mischievous intent  of such capacity as to bring the office held into serious disrepute. 
    Such misuse should be recognised and should , indeed , be sufficient to arouse suspicion in the mind of any reasonable person as to that minister's fitness to hold office.
    Already the behaviour of this government generally , and in particular in the field of industrial relations , has fostered a psychological environment in this country sufficient to generate belligerence and aggression  , even hatred one for the other , which will take years to dissipate , if ever.
    Surely the best that can be hoped for in the workplace is a feeling of mutual acceptance , and an understanding that the best interests of all can only be achieved by a mutuality of concern each for the other?Is it essential for a minister of the crown to so obviously state his position of favour for one over the other that he must appear to be so eager to stop every gap and to pander to every requirement of the employer?
    The minister's endeavors in this field have not led to any diminution of workplace disputation . To the contrary , his and the government's attitude of placation to the  business fraternity has , according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics , led only to an increase in industrial wrangling. The Bureau says that Australia has recorded the worst twelve months of industrial disputes since 1992 . Hardly an endorsement of the department's methods of instituting dispute settlement procedures?
    The Bureau says that there were sixty seven disputes in January this year alone , and I would suggest that to try to lower this high level of dispute by instituting even more draconian measures is an exercise in futility , designed only to satisfy the individuals and organisations to whom the government owes allegiance. 
    As I write , there are union officials in danger of unjust incarceration because they resisted unfair laws.The labouring community are working longer for less reward and have had valuable and fair conditions removed from them in their workplace merely to increase profit levels . 
    Remember that this minister's manipulative manner has already seen this country divided as never before. We have seen baton charges by the police against workers trying to secure for themselves a fair share of the value of the goods which they produce. Worse still , we have seen baton charges against workers by civilian brutes and their dogs with workers injured , some badly . 
    Therefore I request, most earnestly , that the committee reject the legislation  and , in doing so , reject the minister's almost daily claims that his legislation is designed to be fair in all ways to all players and for the ultimate benefit of Australia.This is obviously and patently untrue.
    I thank you for your indulgence and remain yours sincerely , Terry Kelly , of # 12 Railway Parade , Kurri Kurri,New South Wales , 2327. and telephone # (02) 4936-1863