Liberal leader Paul Omodei has called for a return to state-based Australian Workplace Agreements as federal deputy opposition leader Julia Gillard says she and Premier Alan Carpenter are in "furious agreement" about involving the resources sect
Liberal leader Paul Omodei has called for a return to state-based Australian Workplace Agreements as federal deputy opposition leader Julia Gillard says she and Premier Alan Carpenter are in "furious agreement" about involving the resources sector in policy making.
Mr Carpenter told media yesterday that Australian Workplace Agreements were almost the norm in the state's mining sector and said he had asked Mr Rudd and Labor deputy leader Julia Gillard to remember this when formulating their industrial relations policy.
"The resource part of our economy is pivotal to our economic success and so you have to be aware of that fact and not put in place any sort of industrial relations regime which is detrimental to that industry," he said.
Mr Omodei called on the Premier to re-introduce the individual workplace agreements scrapped by the Gallop Government in 2001, labelling his opposition to the new federal labor policy as hypocritical.
"First the Premier goes to court to fight the Federal Government's plan to take over industrial relations, of which AWAs are a key plank, but then he rolls over at Kevin Rudd's feet when Mr Rudd says he'll do exactly the same thing," he said in an announcement.
Speaking on ABC radio this morning, Ms Gillard said she had spoken to Mr Carpenter and representatives of the local resources sector to put their minds at ease.
"What Premier Carpenter has raised with me is simply the need to be mindful of the resources sector in Western Australia," she said.
"Premier Carpenter hasn't put to me an individual solution, what he's said is we need a system that works for the resources sector and in that Premier Carpenter and I are in furious agreement."
Ms Gillard said Mr Carpenter was not concerned with Labor's plan, simply trying to put it into the context of the resource sector.
"Mr Carpenter has never raised with me concerns about Labor's plans, he's sought to understand Labor's plans as they apply to the resources sector and given the great wealth that is generated in his state from the resources sector that's appropriate."
"Nothing he has said today is contrary to Labor's plans."
The full text of an announcement from Mr Omodei's office is pasted below
Alan Carpenter must transform his newfound support for Australian Workplace Agreements into action by reinstating an option for State-based AWAs scrapped by his Government in 2001.
Liberal Leader Paul Omodei said the Premier's new position highlighted a lack of sincerity and leadership ability on major issues.
"It's ironic that Alan Carpenter now says he supports Australian Workplace Agreements when one of the first things this State Government did when it came into power in 2001 was to scrap State-based individual workplace agreements," Mr Omodei said.
"If Alan Carpenter is dinkum with his newfound support of AWAs, why doesn't he instruct his Minister to draft a bill to reinstate State-based individual workplace agreements immediately?
"The Premier's position on seeming opposition to Kevin Rudd's industrial relations move is painfully hypocritical
"First the Premier goes to court to fight the Federal Government's plan to take over industrial relations, of which AWAs are a key plank, but then he rolls over at Kevin Rudd's feet when Mr Rudd says he'll do exactly the same thing.
"Now, after his Government has tried painting AWAs as a bad thing, the Premier suddenly sees their worth just in time for a speech to the Chamber of Minerals and Energy.
"Alan Carpenter clearly stands for nothing - he'll say one thing, but do another depending on which way the wind is blowing and who's he's trying to impress next.
"People should not be duped into believing Alan Carpenter is sincere on this issue."
Mr Omodei said any suggestion that WA had a form of this type of agreement with Employer-Employee Agreements was diversionary rubbish.
"They are like chalk and cheese. EEAs are highly restrictive and do not offer any of the benefits of AWAs," Mr Omodei said.
"People have voted with their feet with EEAs and AWAs. For example, only about four EEAs are registered each month in WA compared to 7,000 AWAs.
"There's no doubt AWAs have played a huge role in the growth and development of WA's economy and moves by Kevin Rudd to abolish them is nothing short of economic vandalism that will seriously undermine our future prosperity."
