GM HOLDEN

Mr MARSHALL (Norwood—Leader of the Opposition) (14:29): My supplementary is to the Premier. Does the government support Holden's bid to reduce wages?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Treasurer, Minister for State Development, Minister for the Public Sector, Minister for the Arts) (14:29): No, of course we don't. We think workers should not face reductions in their terms and conditions of employment, but it is a matter for Holden to have a negotiation with their workforce. We do not intrude in their industrial relationship. We have well worn paths for the way in which those matters are dealt with. It is called an independent Industrial Relations Commission under Fair Work Australia. That is how industrial relations are regulated in this country. We would expect that the industrial parties will abide by that industrial framework, and that provides for protections for workers in relation to their terms and conditions of employment.

I think it is a rather large assumption that there will necessarily be reductions in pay and conditions; that has not been concluded. I know that there is an existing enterprise bargaining agreement between Holden and its workforce. In fact, that was concluded after the agreement that we entered into with Holden, and we would expect that that would be complied with. If there is to be any change to that, it would have to be a change that was agreed to by the relevant union and presumably blessed by the independent tribunal.