Fed: Government bribing business to push IR laws, Gillard says

AAP General News (Australia)
04-12-2007
Fed: Government bribing business to push IR laws, Gillard says

By Vincent Morello

SYDNEY, April 12 AAP - Labor has accused the federal government of bribing Australian
business to push its controversial industrial relations laws.

Fairfax reported today that 40 industry, business and employer groups have received
a total of $20.7 million from the government to educate their members about the year-old
Work Choices laws.

In exchange, the government wants the organisations to fund their own advertising campaigns
in support of Work Choices.

Labor has vowed that if it wins the upcoming federal election it will abolish the new
laws and let workers on Australian Workplace Agreements decide if they want to remain
on an individual contract or enter into a collective bargaining agreement.

In the meantime, Labor's spokeswoman for industrial relations Julia Gillard has accused
the government, but not business, of foul play.

"Now I don't blame Australian businesses or business organisations for taking money
from the government for training in industrial relations laws," Ms Gillard told reporters
in Sydney.

"But I do blame the Howard government for offering taxpayers' money as a political
bribe on the one hand and requiring a political favour in support of the Howard government
on the other.

"Every Australian would know that that isn't right."

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KEYWORD: WORKPLACE GILLIARD

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