U.K. migrants blamed

Press, 10 October 1978, Page 8

U.K. migrants blamed

NZPA Brisbane Militant English-born trade unionists working in Australia have been branded as “nothing but bloody trouble makers” by a senior Queensland Cabinet Minister. The state’s Minister of Local-Government (Mr Russell Hinze) told a Gold Coast beer festival that "bloody Pom union leaders” were behind Queensland's two-month-old brewery strike. Mr Hinze, who is regarded as outspoken by his Cabinet colleagues, has been supported, however, by the Queensland Premier, (Mr Joh Bjelke-Petersen),

Mr Hinze told about 600 people at the beer festival: “What is the use of having a beer festival when there is no beer?

“It’s all the fault of bloody Pom union leaders. They are the ones that ferment ail the trouble. Bloody pom union leaders are nothing but trouble.” After his address, Mr Hinze told reporters that he would not retract one word of his attack, seen to be primarily against Mr John Murphy the Queensland Secretary of the Federation of Liquor and Allied Trades Union, Mr Murphy came to

Australia from Ireland 49 years ago.

When asked to comment, Mr Bjelke-Peterson said he did not usually go around making "those sort of statements,” although he agreed with Mr Hinze in a general sense.

Mr Bjelke-Petersen said he did not have a very high regard for English-born trade unionists in Australia. “But. no doubt there are some good ones,” he added.

“They have a very bad reputation throughout 'the nation and that is nobodv s fault but their «wn.”