Published Thursday, 12 April, 2007 at 01:11 PM
Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
WORK CHOICES LEGAL BATTLES HAS MINISTER IN A SPIN
The Federal Government’s plan to use the courts to push its Work Choices laws on Queensland local government workers shows Canberra has reached desperation levels.
Employment and Industrial Relations Minister John Mickel said Work Choices was proving a lawyer’s gold mine because of the confusion and uncertainty it was causing for employers and employees alike.
“Emasculating the independent umpire – the Australian Industrial relations Commission – has proved a costly mistake that has forced industrial matters to be resolved in the courts,” Mr Mickel said.
He said Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Joe Hockey should meet with workers while he is in Queensland tomorrow to hear how they are affected by Work Choices.
“Mr Hockey should particularly get out and meet some of the 37000 local government employees and hear of their concerns,” he said.
“Workers have to do their job in an environment of fear and confusion, in no small part prompted by the Government’s own back flips on the status of local government workers under Work Choices.
“Earlier in the year, Mr Hockey said whether local councils are constitutional corporations and covered by Work Choices was a “grey area of law”. He said councils were essentially “creatures of the states” and that Canberra was “not inclined to intervene” to bring local government workers under Work Choices.
“Now, he says he’s looking at becoming a party in the looming Federal Court proceedings that will set a benchmark on the issue of workers’ status under Work Choices. Mr Hockey and his Government are just plain desperate to get as many workers covered as possible before a Federal Government lead by Kevin Rudd scraps these harsh and unfair laws.”
Media contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784.
April 12, 2007
Employment and Industrial Relations Minister John Mickel said Work Choices was proving a lawyer’s gold mine because of the confusion and uncertainty it was causing for employers and employees alike.
“Emasculating the independent umpire – the Australian Industrial relations Commission – has proved a costly mistake that has forced industrial matters to be resolved in the courts,” Mr Mickel said.
He said Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Joe Hockey should meet with workers while he is in Queensland tomorrow to hear how they are affected by Work Choices.
“Mr Hockey should particularly get out and meet some of the 37000 local government employees and hear of their concerns,” he said.
“Workers have to do their job in an environment of fear and confusion, in no small part prompted by the Government’s own back flips on the status of local government workers under Work Choices.
“Earlier in the year, Mr Hockey said whether local councils are constitutional corporations and covered by Work Choices was a “grey area of law”. He said councils were essentially “creatures of the states” and that Canberra was “not inclined to intervene” to bring local government workers under Work Choices.
“Now, he says he’s looking at becoming a party in the looming Federal Court proceedings that will set a benchmark on the issue of workers’ status under Work Choices. Mr Hockey and his Government are just plain desperate to get as many workers covered as possible before a Federal Government lead by Kevin Rudd scraps these harsh and unfair laws.”
Media contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784.
April 12, 2007