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Monday, 20 October 1997
Page: 9196


Mr FITZGIBBON —Congratulations and thank you to Channel Nine's Sunday program team for their graphic depiction yesterday of the new face of industrial relations in this country. Producer Nick Farrow, reporter Paul Ransley and their team helped to highlight for all Australians how far this government and their multinational mates are prepared to go to break the back of the trade union movement in this country. The tactics of intimidation being employed by Arco at its central Queensland mine and by Rio Tinto at its Hunter Valley No. 1 mine have no place in Australian society. These are companies being aided and abetted by this Howard government.

When asked to comment on the Gordonstone situation yesterday the Minister for Workplace Relations and Small Business (Mr Reith) said he `could not comment on a matter he knew nothing about'. Who believes that? He should come in here today and make an explanation as to his involvement in the Gordonstone matter and explain to us whether it is also Arco that has a hotline to his desk in addition to that hotline that already exists for Rio Tinto and those promulgating those offences against miners at the Hunter Valley No. 1 mine.