Australia's manufacturing industry, suffering from the Coalition's inaction on sky-high energy prices, is facing the prospect of further pain if federal Labor wins the election and hands more power to unions, says the head of the nation's largest brick maker., the chief executive of Brickworks, a long-time Liberal Party donor, says he fears for the future of the entire manufacturing sector and warned domestic pressures risked forcing large-scale business investments offshore.
Mr Partridge said he feared for the "long-term future" of the Australian manufacturing sector, and hit out at federal government policymakers, who he said were doing nothing to tackle the problem and failing to comprehend the extent of the threat posed to the industry.The ASX-listed Brickworks last year acquired one of the biggest brick manufacturers in the US, Glen-Gery, in a deal worth $151 million.
His comments echo concerns voiced by Mike Kane, the head of Boral, another prominent building materials manufacturer, who last month warned of "industrial mayhem" if union bargaining power was increased to this extent under a government led by Labor leader Bill Shorten. Labor employment spokesman Brendan O'Connor said the ALP wanted to restore the balance in the labour market, "and this can only be achieved by employers, unions and workers bargaining under laws that deliver fair outcomes for all".
Pain he had to have. Can't fake it forever.
If Labor wins the next election this will be the tip of the iceberg. Contrary to his own claims Shorten will generate his own form of unemployment caused by his demands for unsustainable wage increases.
Obviously he is a crook and doesn’t like to pay workers the correct wage
Oh please. Unions have power at the end of a bargaining period. That’s what Work Choices created with the ‘The Ages’ help. IR - my profession.
Terri_1987a And his Safe Rate shit, which will destroy sub contract drivers
Scare tactics do not work any more We have heard that many times .We have check and balances so your rhetoric is scaremongering and rubbish
Yes they just want to keep increasing their profits and workers’ wages low. How fair is that? The business sector brings out this old chestnut prior to each federal election. Ho, hum, yawn.
The same brick manufacturer which has donated 6 figure sums to the Liberal party in the past?
The unions represent a tiny minority. Their power should be reflected by that.
Im looking forward to the recession & that is not sarcasm
It’s a fair point given the current industrial actions and methods of intimidation some unions are applying even today... hope bill settle them down!!
Run away ch 9 and Peter Costello and stop telling lies...