PM enlists backbenchers to sell IR changes
PM - Friday, 15 July , 2005 18:47:32
Reporter: Alexandra Kirk
MARK COLVIN: The ACTU engaged external consultants to help map out its $8 million advertising campaign against the Government's impending industrial changes.
Now the Prime Minister's enlisted the Liberal MP, Andrew Robb, to head a team of backbenchers to help communicate the Government's package to the Australian community.
Mr Robb is a seasoned campaigner, as federal director of the Liberal Party he helped to run the 1993 and ‘96 election campaigns.
Andrew Robb spoke to Alexandra Kirk.
ANDREW ROBB: Our primary responsibility is to help the Prime Minister and the Minister, Kevin Andrews, communicating what's in the package, importantly communicating what's not in the package, because most of the union focus has been what's not in the package. And also explaining… helping the PM and the minister explain why we're introducing these changes.
ALEXANDRA KIRK: You concede that the ACTU campaign has made a significant impact when it comes to the court of public opinion?
ANDREW ROBB: Well I think that we expected that they would do something, but I think we're all surprised at how far they've been prepared to go in frightening people, misrepresenting the changes, in fact, telling blatant lies to, in most cases just protect their own fiefdoms.
ALEXANDRA KIRK: Surprised by the chord that they've struck, though?
ANDREW ROBB: Well, they have frightened people. And no, I don't say… I wouldn't call it a chord that it struck because, if you put out false information which is frightening people, well they will, they'll listen to it. But in a funny sort of a way, they have got people's attention, and perhaps the unions with their scare tactics may in fact at least have people listening a lot more than they otherwise would've.
ALEXANDRA KIRK: The Prime Minister so far refused to guarantee that workers won't be worse off. Is that a flaw in the Government strategy? Do you think that he needs to revert to his 1996 electioneering tactic of promising that workers would not be worse off?
ANDREW ROBB: Look I just think that it's just a really a stunt by those that are seeking to oppose this at any cost the changes that we put in place in 1996 – which these are an important extension of – have delivered. They've delivered 14 per cent increase in real wages.
ALEXANDRA KIRK: So the Prime Minister said back then, the industrial relations changes would not see workers worse off. Why not do it again?
ANDREW ROBB: Well, he is guaranteeing… he's putting… he’s putting his record on the line. If we start to get into, you know, individual… you cannot work on the hypothetical. You know…
ALEXANDRA KIRK: But he did back then and he also did again with the GST campaign when he said no one would be worse off under the GST.
ANDREW ROBB: Well he, he did say that no one would be worse off. He took measures to make sure that with the introduction of the GST, that the financial circumstance of people remain the same. When these are introduced, that will be the case. That's not relevant at the point of introduction.
As these things play out, what will be the case, overwhelmingly, is that we can protect the job growth, we can keep downward pressure on interest rates, and we can keep real wages increasing. This raft of changes is the only way, is the principal way in which we can deliver on our promise at the last election. And that was that we would give our primary attention to keeping interest rates as low as possible and keeping the job growth – keeping Australia ahead of the pack.
ALEXANDRA KIRK: And are you confident that at the end of nine months, that you'll have turned public opinion around?
ANDREW ROBB: I am. I'm very confident. And I do feel that once we've had the opportunity to take people through that over the next few months, that they will be comfortable when these things are introduced.
ALEXANDRA KIRK: And do you believe that it's going to take a lot of taxpayers’ money to change people's minds, to make them more comfortable?
ANDREW ROBB: Well I don't know about changing people's minds, but to inform them will take no more than we have committed as a Government, and previous governments have committed in major programs of reform.
You've got to take people with you. We've got 20 million Australians out there who need the information. It is quite a complex package of changes.
ALEXANDRA KIRK: And people have suggested a figure of $20 million. Do you think that's what it will take?
ANDREW ROBB: I don't know what it will take, but I see that it's no different really to other major programs and the communication effort that's gone behind other major programs. It's the responsibility of government to inform the community about what it's doing.
MARK COLVIN: The Federal Liberal backbencher, Andrew Robb, who’ll head a special Government taskforce on industrial changes with Alexandra Kirk.