Business has been invited, but how will Australia's workers get a seat at the cabinet table of a future Beazley Labor government?
The federal opposition leader has promised to set up a "council of business advisers" with special access to cabinet meetings. The council would be modelled on the South Australian Labor government's Economic Development Board, headed by mining magnate Robert Champion de Crespigny. Members are paid $45,000 a year for putting in their appearance.
This may be scandalous, but it is not surprising. The strength of the union movement's campaign against Work Choices means that Labor can't promise the big corporations that it will keep most of Work Choices if it gets elected, so it's having a panic attack about how to make amends with the big end of town.
Beazley's behaviour is reminiscent of that of former New Zealand Labour PM David Lange. The NZ peace movement forced an anti-nuclear, anti-ANZUS policy on NZ Labour and, as compensation to NZ business, Lange unleashed Roger Douglas and his brutal economic rationalist policies on the NZ economy and working people.
Unlike the members of the Business Council of Australia and the Australian Industry Group, workers in this country should not expect to be offered a seat at Labor's cabinet table.
Beazley's offer to big business that it can influence Labor Party policy means that the union movement can't assume that a Labor government will automatically act in the interests of workers. It took 18 months of mass protests, pickets, public meetings and media stories about the injustices of Australian Workplace Agreements before Beazley committed a Labor government to abolishing AWAs.
The only guarantee we have that a Labor government will do anything for workers that will tread on the toes of big business is if the union movement continues, and steps up, the campaign of mass mobilisations, industrial action and public awareness.
Socialist Alliance members have been deeply involved in the campaign against Work Choices and we pledge 100% of our energy and commitment to the campaign, regardless of whether a Labor or Liberal government is elected at the next election.
Sue Bull
[Sue Bull is the Socialist Alliance candidate for the Legislative Council Western Region in the Victorian state election.]