N.Z. unions thick—Aust.

Press, 14 April 1989, Page 4

N.Z. unions thick —Aust.

NZPA Sydney The chairman of an Australian Parliamentary select committee yesterday labelled New Zealand’s Combined Trade Unions as “thick” for opposing the Anzac frigates project. Mr Gordon Bilney, a Labour member of Parliament, who chairs the joint Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee in Canberra, made the comment while the committee was addressed by Mr Kevin Hackwell, a spokesman for the New Zealand defence research group, Just Defence. Mr Hackwell said he received a hostile reception from some committee members in a “no-holds-barred” 90-minute meeting, as he put forward the case for New Zealand

pursuing a less expensive, alternative to spending $2 billion on four ships from the Anzac project with Australia. He said the committee did not seem to be aware of the extent of debate going on in New Zealand over the frigates. “There were some interesting views expressed,” he said. “The chairman, Gor don Bilney, when told the Combined Trade Unions were opposed to the frigates, said that the New Zealand unions were a bit thick. “I took exception to that. “I think they have made a very sensible choice. Given the unemployment in New Zealand, the Government is much better off spending money elsewhere in the econ-

orriy, rather than expensive and unnecessary frigates.” Mr Bilney confirmed his criticism of New Zealand’s union movement when called last evening. “The unionists I have met from the C.T.U. have always struck me as being a bit thick and I think the New Zealand union movement has been fairly well outflanked by the Government,” he said. “They seem to have moved with the perspicacity of the average snail.” Some other comments from the committee about New Zealand union attitudes were uncomplimentary. “One point was made, not by me, that it was all run by some Moscoworiented bunch of Communists,” Mr Bilney, a member of Labour’s

Centre-Left faction, said. Senator Chris Schacht, another Labour Party member of the committee, told Mr Hackwell he felt New Zealand was going to “scab” on Australia if it did not buy the frigates. “I made it very clear to him that we weren’t,” Mr Hackwell said. “I pointed out that if we went for the alternative suggested, buying six much cheaper, more appropriate ships like the Castle class, we would actually be enhancing our capability for participating in regional security.” Just Defence supported New Zealand having a blue-water navy and Mr Hackwell said most New Zealanders saw the need for such a navy to police New Zealand’s economic zone.