The so-called 'Exclusive Brethren clause' in the Fair Work Bill was knocked out by a 33-31 vote in the Senate tonight.
Moved by Greens Leader Bob Brown and supported by the Government and Senators Xenophon and Fielding, the long-held provision for Exclusive Brethren businessmen to refuse union entry to workplaces has been removed.
A large contingent of Exclusive Brethren elders left the Senate gallery after the vote.
Senator Brown thanked the Government and Senators Fielding and Xenophon saying parallel provisions privileging the sect which exist in all states except Victoria should also be removed.
I looked up Hansard and found that the senators who sided with the Exclusive Brethren were all from the Coalition - Abetz, Back, Barnett, Bernardi, Birmingham, Boswell, Boyce, Brandis, Bushby, Cash, Eggleston, Ferguson, Fierravanti-Wells, Fifield, Fisher, Heffernan, Humphries, Joyce, Kroger, Macdonald, Mason, McGauran, Minchin, Nash, Parry, Payne, Ronaldson, Ryan, Scullion, Troeth, Williams.
Mackie's Mate
Maclean, NSW
Guest Speak is a North Coast Voices segment allowing serious or satirical comment from NSW Northern Rivers residents. Email ncvguestpeak at live dot com dot au to submit comment for consideration.
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