Qld: Former PM takes on state review

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Qld: Former PM takes on state review

By Paul Osborne, State Political Correspondent

BRISBANE, Aug 6 AAP - Former prime minister Bob Hawke is not expecting an easy jobin reviewing Queensland's public sector enterprise bargaining system.

Mr Hawke was in Brisbane today for talks with Premier Peter Beattie and IndustrialRelations Minister Gordon Nuttall.

He was appointed by Mr Beattie to review the industrial relations system amid governmentnegotiations with seven public sector unions that have resulted in two months of workbans.

"I'm not saying it will be easy, but normally you can find a way through," Mr Hawketold reporters today.

Mr Hawke, a former ACTU leader, said he had been around the union movement a long timeand had a lot of experience in seeking a consensus.

"I always listen to people - if they have something genuine to say I will listen tothem," Mr Hawke said.

"I find in the experience I've had that generally at the outset of some process thereare pretty tough, hard positions taken, but generally when you get people to talk youcan usually find a way through these things."

Mr Hawke has been given the task of exploring three models to replace enterprise bargaining- a system he had a major hand in creating in the 1980s.

The models include annual wages adjustments with access to the industrial relationscommission for special case applications, an awards/arbitration model, and a system ofpublic service arbitrators which would involve blending the two other options.

Mr Beattie said he was open to a fourth option - any other system that improved onthe current system - and extending the consultation period.

Mr Beattie said he did not expect "magic" from the former Labor leader, but was confidentMr Hawke had the experience and knowledge to come up with a solution.

"Whatever we put out there will be fair to our workers," Mr Beattie said.

"We are not about trying to screw anybody.

"This is about a fair outcome and an end to the law of the jungle."

Mr Hawke is being paid a $25,000 fee to conduct the review, which public sector unionshave criticised as a needless panic reaction to the ongoing nurses' dispute in Queensland.

AAP pjo/sc/apm/sb

KEYWORD: UNIONS HAWKE (PIX AVAILABLE)