Government Double Standards on Reith

Date: 11 October 2000

The Howard Government is guilty of double standards in the handling of Workplace Relations Minister Peter Reith's flagrant breaches of guidelines relating to his taxpayer-funded 'Telecard', Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations, Arch Bevis, said today.

"Peter Reith's views on supporting greater powers for employers at the expense of ordinary Australian workers are well known," Mr Bevis said.

"His behaviour with regard to his 'Telecard' rort shows that there is one rule for him and another rule for every other Australian.

"What action do you think he would propose be taken against an employee who gave his company credit card to his son, to then find his company has a bill for unauthorised expenditure of $50,000 as a result of that action?

"This is not some innocent oversight on his behalf - this card was not lost or misplaced.

"Peter Reith has admitted that he broke the rules and provided the 'Telecard' number and the personal identification number to his son. He did this knowingly. By his own admission, he then took no interest in how it was used. He made no effort to ensure that the details were secure. That only makes matters worse. This issue has been covered up for over 12 months."

Mr Bevis said Mr Reith's attitudes and actions toward ordinary Australian workers provide a telling contrast to the Minister's performance over his Telecard.

"Peter Reith justified the mass sacking of 2,000 Australian waterfront workers because he alleged they were 'rorters'.

"For example, on 10 March 1998 he claimed that these workers were 'rorting' the system for just seeking a wage increase of $90 a week. Peter Reith's actions have cost the taxpayer an average of $192 per week for five years.

"The Minister should step down from the Ministry pending the outcome of the Federal Police inquiry and repay the outstanding $49,000."

For further information

Contact:	David Tansey
Union:	ALP Federal
Phone:	(02) 6277 4505
Contact Mobile:	0416 136 164
Fax:	(02) 6277 8534
Email:	david.tansey@aph.gov.au
WWW:	http://www.alp.org.au

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