Victorian Trades Hall Council. The voice of Victorian workers since 1856.

The Tide Has Turned

13th October 2008

by Brian Boyd, VTHC Secretary 











With very little media coverage a significant change in the relationship between the industrial wing and the political wing of the Australian labour movement occurred on Saturday 11th October 2008.

 

Not yet 11 months after the historic federal election of November 2007 the ALP Deputy PM and IR Minister, Julia Gillard received a muted, even frosty reception at the Victorian ALP State Conference held at Moonee Valley on that day.

 

Six months earlier, at the May 2008 Victorian ALP State Conference, it was a different story – both DPM Gillard and PM Kevin Rudd received standing ovations.   It was the first formal gathering of the ALP in Victoria since Howard was thrown out of office.   But that euphoria has definitely evaporated.   Two significant IR issues of the governments own making have risen to the surface.

 

Firstly there are the delays in replacing John Howard’s infamous IR laws and more importantly there are concerns about some of the proposals relating to the replacement legislation.

 

Secondly, the ongoing operations of the ABCC in the national construction industry, with a senior union official Noel Washington facing 6 months gaol for non-cooperation, has generated cross factional support for the immediate abolition of this industrial police force.   Both areas are causing major angst within the industrial wing

 

Julia Gillard walked into the Vic ALP Conference on Saturday 11th October  flanked by Victorian and Australian Federal Police “close personal protection” officers! There was hardly a person on their feet.    The clap was very restrained and reluctantly polite.

 

The Deputy PM faced a sea of yellow protest T-Shirts stating: “Abolish the ABCC Now – Don’t Jail Washo”.   Over 60% of ALP Conference delegates were wearing them!

 

She asked the President if she could speak before Premier Brumby – not the usual protocol, as she had to go somewhere else.

 

Her speech was uncharacteristically short, referring to the global financial crisis, educational matters and eventually IR, claiming that WorkChoices was dead and that she wasn’t proposing a “WorkChoices – Lite” replacement package, as was being claimed in some quarters.

 

Again no warm response from the crowd at each of her main points of delivery – the usual Conference behaviour and such courtesy for such a key note address.

 

On ending her speech, Ms Gillard immediately left the stage, exiting to the rear, escorted by a federal ‘close personal protection’ officer.

 

Channel 7 news in Melbourne was the only TV network to cover the incident on the night of 11/10/08.

 


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