Fed: Unions plan to stop new unfair dismissal laws

AAP General News (Australia)
12-18-1998
Fed: Unions plan to stop new unfair dismissal laws

MELBOURNE, Dec 18 AAP - Australia's unions are planning legal and political moves to try to
to block a "back door move" by the federal government to exempt small businesses from unfair
dismissal laws.

Late yesterday Workplace Relations Minister Peter Reith announced he would bypass
parliament and make the exemption by using regulations.

"Once again Peter Reith has shown his contempt for parliamentary process by finding
backdoor ways to get his policies through," ACTU President Jennie George told AAP.

Ms George said the ACTU would pursue political and legal avenues to block the regulation
changes.

"I don't want to give our tactics away, but we are looking at using the federal court or
appeals tribunals," she said.

"Another target for the ACTU would be the independent senators.

"Mr Reith has used this tactic because it would have taken two independent senators to
defect to support his legislation, but only one senator needed to cross the line to block a
move by the senate to disallow the regulation."

While a minister can form regulations such as those created yesterday by Mr Reith, the
senate can affectively disallow them.

"It's obvioulsy why Mr Reith has gone down this path however we are confident the senators
will maintain their earlier policies of opposition to unfair dismissal exemptions," Ms George
said.

"In particular we'll be discussing the matter with Senator Mal Colston, who has in the past
opposed these moves."

AAP ag/sp/jlw

KEYWORD: SMALL ACTU

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