Fed: Labor's IR laws will not slow productivity: Gillard =2

AAP General News (Australia)
04-30-2007
Fed: Labor's IR laws will not slow productivity: Gillard =2

Ms Gillard said she was concerned that businesses that provide political funding to
the government to help promote AWAs would become propagandists for Prime Minister John
Howard.

"I'd be concerned if the business community got itself into the political fray, I'd
be concerned if they became, if you like, propagandists for Mr Howard," Ms Gillard told
Southern Cross Broadcasting.

"I don't think that that is a wise position for Australian business to put itself in.

"In an election year the political contest is a pretty hard, fast place to be, it's
a contact sport if you like with a lot of injury.

"I don't think it's a wise place for Australian business to be out on the field in
the fray getting those injuries on the way through."

Ms Gillard said trade unions had the right to provide political funding for campaigns
because they represented workers opposed to the government's Work Choices laws.

But businesses represent shareholders, many of whom opposed Work Choices, she said.

"Trade unions in this country still represent hundreds of thousands of Australians."

"Trade unions are entitled to go out there and campaign, if Australian business turn
to their shareholders and said 'what do you think?' I think you'd get a pretty mixed view,"

she said.

AAP sld/cp/bwl

KEYWORD: WORKPLACE GILLARD 2 CANBERRA (REOPENS)

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