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Tristar dispute a result of Howard
Date: 03 August 2001
The TriStar Steering and Suspension dispute that is affecting the Australian car industry is the result of the industrial relations system put in place by the Howard Government, Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations, Arch Bevis, said today.
"John Howard's laws discourage negotiation between parties, and quite frankly the Prime Minister has no-one to blame but himself for this type of bitter dispute.
"The Howard/Reith industrial relations system is based on an adversarial framework that promotes a 'winner take all' approach to negotiations.
"In 1992, John Howard as Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations, made a core promise regarding the Industrial Relations Commission that a future Coalition Government would, "...stab them in the stomach." . This is clearly a promise he has kept.
"The current dispute is in relation to negotiations for a new enterprise agreement, the actions being taken are legal and in accordance with John Howard's laws.
"At the moment we have the worst of all worlds, Howard's bargaining system does not require employers or unions to bargain at all and this is made worse by the Government's continued undermining of the role of the strong and independent umpire.
"John Howard's laws promote division and, unfortunately, the government seems to think that when an industrial dispute comes along, their job is to be in there swinging punches.
"Labor is committed to a strong and independent commission that has the powers necessary to resolve disputes. Labor has consistently criticised former Minister Reith and this Government for their repeated efforts to undermine the Commission.
"The reality is that the Howard Government has presided over an unprecedented attack on the role, authority, and resources of the Commission.
"Labor unequivocally supports the pivotal role of a strong independent commission able to prevent and settle these type of disputes," said Mr Bevis.
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