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UNIONS STRENGTHEN RESOLVE TO DEFEAT UNFAIR LAWS
14 November 2006 SA WORK LAWS LAST LINE OF DEFENCE
Today's disappointing decision by the High Court validating the federal government's unfair workplace laws only services to strengthen unions' resolve to defeat them. SA Unions Secretary, Janet Giles says unions may have lost this battle, but are determined to win the war. "That the High Court has found these laws constitutionally valid does not mean that the laws are fair", she says. "This doesn't end the matter. If anything, this decision will galvanise the determination of workers to defeat the laws at the ballot box, by getting rid of John Howard and is un-Australian policies". "The federal government has pushed the power balance too far in favour of employers, and workers know it. Workers have the strength of numbers come election time, and we will be striving to ensure John Howard pays the ultimate political price, by getting rid of him and his odious, hurtful laws", Ms Giles says. Ms Giles noted that the High Court's decision was not unanimous with Justices Kirby and Callinan disagreeing. "Justice Michael Kirby - noted for his fierce independence and reasoned, impartial stance - dissented in very clear terms and believed the government's laws should be declared completely invalid." "The intellectual rigour that Justice Kirby applies to his decisions should give cause for all Australians to question these laws. That one of Australia's pre-eminent legal minds so completely dissents with the ruling takes the edge off the government's victory." "I predict that the National Day of Worker Action on 30 November will be further fuelled by today's decision. There is growing resentment and distrust of the federal government. We have one year until the next election, when Australian citizens will have the chance to fix what the High Court didn't, and get rid of these laws by getting rid of the federal Liberal government", Ms Giles says.
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