Industrial Relations Is the Church's Business

By Brendan Long

Cardinal Pell has dropped another very large pebble into Canberra's political pond. He expressed concern that the new industrial relations regime would put downward pressure on minimum wages. The ripples could still be seen the next day in the flurry of questions in Parliament.

It follows his speech to the National Press Club before the Work Choices Bill passed the Parliament. There he had no praise for the changes, and expressed some apprehension about them. He emphasised the need to protect those on low incomes and called for a slight increase in the minimum wage. He stated that he would welcome a modest increase in union influence.

Eureka Street online Posted 27-6-06