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PM feels the heat in Port Macquarie

The rally highlighted what Coalition policies on industrial relations could mean for NSW teachers.
The rally highlighted what Coalition policies on industrial relations could mean for NSW teachers.

By Wayne Webber

Prime Minister John Howard was greeted by about 300 protesters when he flew in to Port Macquarie to "open" an Australian Technical College on February 9. Australian Technical Colleges, Howard's Trojan Horse for introducing Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs) into education, have been spectacular failures across Australia.

Local member Mark Vaile had arranged to re-badge an existing Catholic St Joseph's Vocational College as an Australian Technical College through a grant of $16 million to build new facilities next to Port Macquarie Airport.

This occasion was to be Howard's media showpiece, but it became a stage for locals to protest against his extreme industrial relations policies, his education policies which rip off public schools and TAFE, as well as Kyoto and David Hick's continued detention without trial.

In addition to the Concerned Grandmothers Group, Amnesty International, the Greens, environmentalists, pensioners and students, members of Federation, Public Service Association, Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union, Australian Workers Union, United Services Union, Electrical Trades Union and the Nurses Association participated in the rally.

Federation Deputy President Angelo Gavrielatos addressed the rally congratulating the younger participants, noting that it was a significant event in the struggle to defeat the Howard Government and its extreme industrial relations laws.

Media reports were full of stories about the protest that night and in the next edition of the Port Macquarie News. The protestors were rightly proud of their efforts which had succeeded in upsetting the Prime Minister's planned good news story.

The peaceful protest was organised by Unions Hastings and Macleay.

Police Local Area Commander at Port Macquarie, Inspector Allan Williams asked Unions Hastings and Macleay President Jim Hutcheon to thank the protestors for their good behaviour.

Wayne Webber is a Country Organiser.

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