News Release

 

GENEROUS UNIONS GIVE ROB THE MONEY HE DESERVES!

1 March 2006

The South Australian branch of the Liberal party is now flush with funds, following a generous donation from SA Unions.

SA Unions Secretary, Janet Giles personally delivered the money to SA Liberal Party headquarters in response to a plea from the cash-strapped Libs for financial support.

Arriving in the brightly emblazoned "Your Rights at Work" van, Ms Giles offloaded a veritable cash windfall, of a kind that matches Rob Kerin's promises.

The money included $90 and $200 notes.

"Our donation is as genuine as Rob Kerin's leadership aspirations", Ms Giles says.

"It's as genuine as the Liberal Party's claim that its policies are in the best interests of the state."

"It's as genuine as the Liberal's promise not to sell ETSA."

"But there is a serious side to all this.  We have written to Mr Kerin thanking him for his letter, but explaining very clearly why the union movement won't be supporting his campaign."

"The Liberal Party has announced it wants to cut 4,000 public service jobs.  It wants to strip workers of their hard won rights and jeopardise their income.  Its privatisation program is costing South Australian's dearly, with higher power and water prices".

"South Australian workers have been forced to make enormous sacrifices because of past Liberal ineptitude - it's the height of arrogance for the Liberals to seek support to do even more damage in the future", Ms Giles says.

Letter to Rob Kerin

 

The Honourable Rob Kerin

Leader of the Opposition

Parliament House

North Terrace

ADELAIDE  SA  5000

 

1 March 2006

 

Dear Rob

 

Thank you for your letter requesting a donation from the union movement.

 

No, we will not donate any money to the Liberal Party for the following

reasons -

1. The Liberal Party has introduced the most anti-worker industrial laws in the history of our nation which will strip workers of their rights, destroy family and community life and reduce the income of working families in this country.

2. The Liberal Party has put 4,000 workers' job security in jeopardy by announcing a cut of 4,000 jobs in the public sector.

3. The Liberal Party has privatised electricity and water, sending the costs for working families through the roof.

We are frankly astonished that you would expect workers, through their unions, to pay the Party which has cost them so much.

 

But there is something we will give you for free - the Liberal Party would be well advised to admit its mistakes and rethink its policies, for the good of the state and its workers.

 

Until your Party adopts fair, moral and sustainable policies that will benefit working South Australians and their families, it will remain banished in the political wilderness.

 

yours sincerely

 

 

Janet Giles

SA Unions, Secretary