Labor leadership debate: contenders reaffirm links with trade unions

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/27/labor-leadership-debate-union-movement

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Labor's leadership contenders have embraced the party's links with the trade union movement and vowed to oppose Coalition government legislation to reintroduce the Australian Building and Construction Commission, a tough industry watchdog.

Bill Shorten and Anthony Albanese, who are facing off in a leadership ballot decided in equal part by their parliamentary colleagues and ALP grassroots members, both told a party forum at their second debate on Friday in Melbourne that they would oppose the Coalition's push to reintroduce the ABCC. They defended Labor's links with the unions, which after a series of corruption scandals have been used by the Coalition to attack Labor.

"If you have no unions you have no Labor party," Albanese said, but advocated party processes that empowered union members rather than just leaders and officials.

The Coalition has pledged to restore the ABCC, which was abolished by the Gillard government, in an attempt to stamp out union militancy in the construction sector.

"I am opposed to any law that says this worker will be treated differently to another worker, any law that attempts to force a worker to give evidence against another without any due process," Albanese said in response to a question from the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union to the two contenders.

Shorten responded that if he was leader he would oppose the resurrection of the ABCC, and if it was re-established he would abolish it again if he came to power.

"Construction workers do not need a separate system of laws from other Australian workers," he said.

"Construction workers … you are a constructive bunch … you earn your money. I don't mind workers getting penalty rates … I will stand beside you."

Shorten defended modern trade unionism as representing the aspirations of many employees.

And the former head of the Australian Workers Union and right-wing factional leader vowed that should he win the Labor leadership he would take part in no more factional activities.

The position of both leadership contenders and the opposition of the Greens to the reintroduction of the ABCC means it is unlikely to happen until the Coalition can work with a newly constituted Senate next July, when the Greens no longer hold balance of power.

Albanese, who entered parliament in 1996, again emphasised his experience and said he would be a "unifying figure" because he did not "believe in saying one thing to one group of people and another thing to another group".

Both candidates appeared to agree that party members should be given a greater say over policy, but Albanese said it was also important "in the interests of electability" for a leader to explain to party members why sometimes he or she did not back a policy idea.

The result of the Labor leadership ballot will be announced on 13 October.

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