Victoria Premier Ted Baillieu

Baillieu Government Commences Urgent Action To End Qantas Industrial Dispute

Victor P Taffa

The Victorian Government has tonight commenced urgent legal action before Fair Work Australia to end the industrial dispute at Qantas.

Premier Baillieu wrote to Prime Minister Gillard last week seeking her intervention to end this dispute, however she refused to act before it was too late.

Premier Baillieu said the Qantas dispute is having severe economic consequences for the state of Victoria and the Victorian Government is determined to do whatever it can to end this industrial dispute before more damage is done.

Under the Fair Work Act, a state industrial relations Minister may apply to Fair Work Australia to suspend or terminate protected industrial action where that action is, or is threatening to:

• Endanger the life, personal safety or health or welfare of the population or part of it, or to cause significant damage to the Australian economy or an important part of it; or

• Cause significant economic harm to the employer(s) and/or the employees that will be covered by the proposed enterprise agreement; or

• Cause significant harm to a third party (suspension order only).

“While this power is rarely used in respect of private sector industrial disputes, the impact of the Qantas dispute on Victoria’s economic interests is serious and threatens to become far worse.” Mr. Baillieu said.

“Along with the inconvenience and disruption to many thousands of passengers travelling across Australia and around the world, the dispute is causing significant economic harm to Victoria especially its tourism and hospitality industries.”

“The economic damage at the time of the Spring Racing Carnival, one of Australia’s biggest annual sporting festivals, is significant.”

“Increased disruption will impact profoundly on incoming visits for the Melbourne Cup and Spring Carnival events.”

“The Victorian Government considers it to be a pressing matter of public interest to have this dispute resolved immediately and will do whatever it possibly can to protect the Victorian community.” Mr. Baillieu said.