New Opp Minister on Workchoices?

Date: 22 September 2008

The appointment of Michael Keenan to the Shadow Employment and Workplace Relations ministry gives the Coalition the chance to rethink its support of WorkChoices and support a fairer IR system, the ACTU said today.

ACTU President Sharan Burrow said:

"With a new Shadow Ministry, the Federal Coalition now has the opportunity to move on from the Howard-Costello era
and adopt a new industrial relations policy that is fairer for Australian workers.

"WorkChoices was the iceberg that sunk the Liberal and National Parties at the last election.

"Under its new leadership the Coalition should respect the vote of the Australian people and dump WorkChoices.

"Voters will be eager to see where Mr Keenan and the new front bench stand on this crucial issue.

"The Coalition will soon have a chance to show whether it has changed its tune on industrial relations
when the Rudd Government's new IR laws are tabled in Parliament.

"The Coalition should show it has moved on and stopped living in the past and support new IR laws
that restore the rights of working Australians," said Ms Burrow.

For further information

Contact:	Amanda Tattam
Union:	ACTU
Contact Mobile:	0418 479 455
WWW:	http://www.actu.asn.au/

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