Senator Eric Abetz

“Workplace Relations Minister Julia Gillard needs to explain to the Australian people what she intends doing to stop the escalation of illegal strike action by some unions.”

“Clearly no amount of ‘spin doctoring’ by the Minister, over the supposed effectiveness of her so called Fair Work laws, can disguise the fact that Labor’s new industrial laws are not up to the task of stopping some in the union movement from running riot across the country,” according to Shadow Employment and Workplace Relations Minister, Senator Eric Abetz.

“Following weeks of escalating strikes and outrageous wage demands by some unions, today it emerges that three of the nation’s most militant unions are being investigated for attempting to impose the ‘no ticket – no start’ bully boy tactics which featured so prominently in the 70’s and 80’s when Australian workers were held to ransom by the union movement.”

"Julia Gillard needs to explain how she intends fixing the mess her laws have created.”

“Ms Gillard’s flat out refusal to step in directly and use the powers she has to put a stop to the escalating strike action is crippling Australia's wealth creation. The Minister’s inaction clearly gives a green light to some irresponsible unions to continue their damaging campaign of industrial action,” says Senator Abetz.

“Labor’s Fair Work laws aren’t working and now it’s time Julia Gillard stepped up to the plate to take on Labor’s union financers and put a stop to the irreparable damage that’s being done to the Australian economy and thereby all Australians.”