Senator TIERNEY (2:04 PM) —My question is to the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Alston. Will the minister inform the Senate of the Howard government's commitment to further reform of Australia's workplace system to curtail damaging trade union influence, to the benefit of Australian business and Australian workers? Is the minister aware of any alternative proposals in this area that might be worthy of consideration?

Senator ALSTON (Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts) —I thank Senator Tierney for an important question, because Senator Tierney knows—and the opposition, of course, know in their heart of hearts—that one of the major reasons why we are one of the fastest growing economies in the world, certainly outstripping virtually all our OECD competitors, is that we have been prepared to take the tough decisions, particularly in the area of industrial relations reform. Unless you have a flexible labour market, you simply cannot compete with other countries that do have flexible structures. That has been a key ingredient in our success to date. It is no accident. It is not just something where you hope you can get there with a bit of rhetoric: you have actually got to do the reform work. So it is very disappointing to find that, in all the distractions that seem to envelop the Labor Party's approach to politics, there is one thing they never say a word on, and that is trying to bring the union movement into line. We hear all this nonsense about modernisation—it is just another slogan. I suppose it is a bit like the Third Way and Knowledge Nation and all these—

Senator Boswell —Country Labor.

Senator ALSTON —Country Labor. That was just a fraud, wasn't it? That was a lamb in sheep's clothing, wasn't it? We had this preposterous call yesterday from the Australian Education Union. They were calling on schools to ban the Governor-General: as though the Governor-General deserves to be treated as a pariah; as though the Governor-General has done anything more than provide ammunition to the media and some sections of the Labor Party to score a cheap point. That is what it is about. I am sure Senator Ray was once an education unionist, when the taxis used to run out of petrol and he had to find something else to do for a living—I am sure he would have been there, in that union. So they are represented in this chamber. I think Senator Crossin is probably still a paid-up member. Maybe she is attending a branch meeting at the present time— no, there she is—and Senator Faulkner had an interest in teaching at one stage, until Richo started teaching him a few tricks.

The problem is they simply are not prepared to stand up for the national interest. They are not interested in workplace reform or growing economies; they are interested in kowtowing. That one act alone deserved serious condemnation, but we have not heard boo from the Labor Party. The ETU, the very union that is basically supporting this proposal to ensure that you have compulsory unionism in the workplace, took 10,000 electricians off building sites in four states yesterday in support of a claim for non-members to be charged bargaining fees. That is just industrial blackmail. It has nothing to do with anything other than trying to boost rapidly declining union membership. That is what it is about. It is basically trying to twist people's arms and to force them to do things that they do not want to do, which is to join trade unions. They do not want to join trade unions. You cannot blame them, when they look at places like the Senate and they see where you end up if you get into the trade union movement. It is an absolute disgrace. But do you ever hear any criticism of these? Of course you do not.

What happened at the royal commission yesterday? One of the stewards reportedly said to a senior project manager, `We are going to get you'—this is Senator Lundy's union. And then what did he say? He said that it was a joke. Well, of course that was no joke, and it was not intended to be, but the way in which the Labor Party react to this union thuggery is a joke, and it is about time that Mr Crean stood up and showed that he has learned something from the last six years. You tried to get through on the `do nothing' strategy, and it has failed twice, so here is your big chance. Do not just leave it to rhetoric: get out there and do something. Get out and criticise something when you know it is wrong. It is a big chance to distinguish yourself from your failed predecessors.

Senator West —Time.

Senator ALSTON —Well, there you go; that is the opportunity for you, and it is no longer there.