04-August-2005
Speeches, Workplace Relations
Reporter: Emma Jolliff
ELEANOR HALL: The Chairman of the Government's industrial relations taskforce Andrew Robb has defended the Coalition's planned advertising campaign, which will run the line that the industrial relations changes are essential to maintaining "the Australian way of life".
Union leaders this morning branded the ads a con, saying the Government's proposed changes threaten job and family security, but Mr Robb says the Federal Government's multi-million dollar campaign is entirely justifiable.
This report from Emma Jolliff.
EMMA JOLLIFF: Ahead of the planned television ads hitting our screens next month, the Prime Minister was again on the airwaves talking up the changes to industrial relations, accusing the union movement of frightening workers, but when pressed on Sydney Radio 2GB John Howard would again not give any guarantees.
JOHN HOWARD: I'm not going to make the mistake of purporting to guarantee that the take home pay of every single individual amongst the 10 million workforce in Australia is not going to change.
EMMA JOLLIFF: But the Federal Government is about to launch a television advertising campaign to woo the public, clearly nervous the union movement is undermining their plans for change by winning the hearts and minds of workers. It's speculated the Government's budget for the campaign could exceed $20 million.
So has Government been keeping an eye on polling? Andrew Robb is the Chairman of the Government Industrial Relations taskforce
ANDREW ROBB: No I haven't to be honest. And to be honest I'm not that interested, you know? I've… I do understand polling, I think, having had years in that sort of role, but what I did learn is that, you know, in the early skirmishes it doesn't really tell you a lot.
EMMA JOLLIFF: The ACTU and Labor are challenging the Government's right to use taxpayer funds for the campaign, given that the IR changes have not become law.
A leaked document from the Department of Workplace Relations briefs advertising agencies they must emphasise that the new industrial relations laws are necessary for the "retention of the Australian way of life". But what does that mean?
Andrew Robb again.
ANDREW ROBB: I suppose what we're really getting at is that there are key features which make up our way of life.
I mean, typically we're an independent people, I think. We like the freedom to live our lives in a manner which suits each of us individually. We like a fair go, we're resourceful, adaptable people and we place a high value on family security and peace of mind.
Those sort of key features of our way of life, we want to preserve as a Government and these workplace relation reforms will play some part in continuing that way of life that we all value.
EMMA JOLLIFF: Stephen Smith is the Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations. He says life under the new reforms would actually undermine what Australians hold dear.
STEPHEN SMITH: It is very vague and it's also very hypocritical, because these proposals, not only are they an attack upon the living standards of middle Australians and working Australians by attacking their salaries and their wages and their entitlements and their conditions, it's also an attack upon the mainstream values and virtues that Australians have held dear for over 100 years.
Things like minimum standards and safety nets, things like an independent and strong umpire, things like the capacity to be organised collectively. And so, whilst it might well be a good advertising throwaway line, it stands there hypocritically and in stark contrast to what they're actually doing.
ELEANOR HALL: And that's Labor's Industrial Relations Spokesman Stephen Smith ending that report from Emma Jolliff.