FED: Church leaders agree to disagree with Reith

AAP General News (Australia)
08-25-1999
FED: Church leaders agree to disagree with Reith

CANBERRA, Aug 25 AAP - Workplace Relations Minister Peter Reith has failed to allay the
concerns of church leaders about the government's planned industrial relations reforms
following a meeting last night.

The church delegation held a 90-minute meeting with Mr Reith and neither party gave ground
in talks described as vigorous but cordial.

No further meetings are planned but the church leaders will now prepare submissions to the
Senate inquiry after further examination of the legislation's impact on more vulnerable
workers.

The meeting came as up to 15,000 people marched through Sydney streets in the latest
protest against the second wave of industrial relations reforms, with the ACTU-organised
protests culminating in a mass rally in Canberra later this week.

Uniting Church Moderator Pam Kerr said yesterday she was concerned the reforms went against
Christian teachings.

"We'd be talking about biblical teachings, the call of the prophets for those of us who are
well off to make sure that our wealth doesn't lead to the disadvantage of those who are
poorer," Ms Kerr told reporters in Canberra.

"We can't say we love God if we don't also love our neighbour, and that love for our
neighbour means taking a stand for our neighbour when they have been wounded.

"We think some of our neighbours could be wounded by the proposed changes in the
legislation."

AAP sc/jnb

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