Wait a moment - isn't this the man whose own industrial relations changes closed down many unions under forced amalgamation, outlawed secondary boycotts and ended compulsory union membership?
Indeed it is. He enjoys boasting about his achievements:
"We did the hard policy work, unionists made the sacrifice, which have created a strong economy which can now afford these real wage increases," he said.
"Instead of being grateful, John Howard now launches the most vicious attack upon them."
Hang on, Hawkey - Howard's been PM for 10 years now. One imagines a lot of what the economy is doing is down to him. But thanks for the groundwork, only a Labor government could have got away with it.
Meanwhile, old Bob whinges:
... the workplace changes were an attempt to destroy the arbitration system and the trade union movement.
They were saying the same thing when his IR changes ended the closed shop union system. In fact, this quote could easily have been from back then:
"It is wrong. It is unfair. It is un-Australian. It is immoral," (Hawke) said.
He says the laws will allow employers to use individual workplace agreements to cut workers' pay and conditions, such as public holidays, penalties and meal breaks.
I always said Hawke was a pretty good Liberal PM. How much further would it all have gone if his economic rationalist offsider/deposer, Paul 'The Undertaker' Keating, had managed to hold onto office a little longer?
-- Nick
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