Baptist Union of Australia

MEDIA RELEASE

For immediate release

24 November 2005

The President of the Baptist Union of Australia, Rev Dr Ross Clifford, together with Baptist leaders from every Australian state and territory, express concern over the possible negative impact of the Work Choices legislation currently before Parliament.

Together we are resolved to continue to personally express our concerns about the workplace reforms, and to encourage the pastors and attenders of our churches throughout Australia to take an active and informed interest on this and other new legislation. We encourage Australian Baptists to become well informed about the new legislation, and to talk and write to their federal Member of Parliament expressing their views.

We acknowledge the Government's responsibility in the interests of economic growth. We also recognise our responsibility as Christian leaders to uphold the interests of the poor and vulnerable who will gain least from these reforms. We express our concern that the Bill as it currently stands will result in the erosion of quality family and leisure time for many Australians, and will undermine the balance between employer and employee rights that has served Australia so well.

We urge the Government to address these unintended consequences of the legislation by a guarantee of public holidays and four weeks annual leave to full-time employees, an assurance that full-time employees would be paid for a 38-hour week, and protection of employees from unfair dismissal.

Of particular concern to Australian Baptists is that a new system of negotiating individual workplace agreements may severely disadvantage low-skilled workers, young people, workers of non-English speaking backgrounds, and those who are unemployed.

"Christians need to be better informed on major social and ethical issues," Rev Rod Benson, Director of Sydney's Centre for Christian Ethics, said. "There are many helpful sources of information on Work Choices. Three of the best are the government website (http://www.workchoices.gov.au); Briefing Paper No. 1 on the Commonwealth Government's Proposals to reform Workplace Relations in Australia published by the Australian Catholic Commission for Employment Relations; and Religion & Ethics Australia Digest published weekly by our Centre and providing links to all the major IR news and opinion," he said.

Signed by

Rev Dr Ross Clifford, President, Baptist Union of Australia Rev Scott Pilgrim, Director of National Ministries, Baptist Union of Australia Mr Bob Adams, Secretary, Baptist Union of Northern Territory Rev Garry Billing, Gen Supt, Baptist Union of Tasmania Rev John Field, Gen Supt, Baptist Union of South Australia Rev Dr David Loder, Gen Supt, Baptist Union of Queensland Rev Alan Marr, Director of Ministries, Baptist Union of Victoria Rev Norm Nix, Acting Team Leader, Baptist Union of NSW Ps Steve Smith, Director of Ministries, Baptist Union of Western Australia

For more information contact Rod Benson - ethics[at]morling.edu.au