Published Sunday, 17 June, 2007 at 09:00 AM
Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
HOWARD’S SECRET IR AGENDA EXPOSED
Queensland Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel said today the Howard Government has a secret agenda to force all state government employees into the Federal Industrial Relations system,
“We have already seen the Federal Government pressure the university sector and the TAFE sector to accept individual contracts.
If John Howard is re-elected he will try and force all Queensland Public Sector workers including nurses, police, fire fighters, ambulance officers and park rangers into the Federal system,” Mr Mickel said.
“The tender documents from the Federal Department of Employment and Workplace Relations that are now in the public arena show very clearly that the Federal Government intends to utilise all its powers to force employees of state governments into the Federal system.
“I call on John Howard to explicitly rule out linking the state’s share of GST revenue to handing over its industrial relations powers to the Federal Government.
“Teachers, nurses, and all public servants should be very worried about these developments. At risk is all the employment protection mechanisms that currently exist.
“As the coalition went to the last state election promising to keep Queensland public sector workers in the state industrial relations system, I challenge the Queensland Opposition Spokeswomen, Ms Fiona Simpson to stand with me and fight to protect the working conditions of Queensland Public Sector workers,” Mr Mickel said.
Media contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion on 322 46784
June 17, 2007
“We have already seen the Federal Government pressure the university sector and the TAFE sector to accept individual contracts.
If John Howard is re-elected he will try and force all Queensland Public Sector workers including nurses, police, fire fighters, ambulance officers and park rangers into the Federal system,” Mr Mickel said.
“The tender documents from the Federal Department of Employment and Workplace Relations that are now in the public arena show very clearly that the Federal Government intends to utilise all its powers to force employees of state governments into the Federal system.
“I call on John Howard to explicitly rule out linking the state’s share of GST revenue to handing over its industrial relations powers to the Federal Government.
“Teachers, nurses, and all public servants should be very worried about these developments. At risk is all the employment protection mechanisms that currently exist.
“As the coalition went to the last state election promising to keep Queensland public sector workers in the state industrial relations system, I challenge the Queensland Opposition Spokeswomen, Ms Fiona Simpson to stand with me and fight to protect the working conditions of Queensland Public Sector workers,” Mr Mickel said.
Media contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion on 322 46784
June 17, 2007