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Summer 2003

HACSU Delegates Call for a Fairer Australia

The annual HACSU Delegates Conference was held on Friday 7th November, with a focus on the theme “Towards a Just and Fair Society”.

Chris Walton, Assistant Secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, was the facilitator for the day. One hundred and twenty delegates attended the conference and most would agree that it was a highly successful day. This was the second delegates conference organized by HACSU and the concept of an annual conference has been overwhelmingly endorsed by members.

Delegates were asked to comment on what Australia was like in the 1970s, what it is like today, and what Australia would be like in 2010. This was an interesting exercise. Those delegates who lived through and can remember the 1970s, were almost unanimous in their view that Australia was a fairer and more just society then, and that over the last ten years, we have become a less fair society.

Statements about the future indicated delegates believed unless something is done, Australia would continue the trend towards a more individualistic, less fair society.

Delegates believed the emphasis by Governments on tax cuts rather than better services and the difficulties faced by people trying to access health and education services, are all indicators of the trend towards a society that has less interest in "fair go" social policies.

Australia for much of its history led the world in social policy. Australia led the way in providing a safety net of social policies to protect the less well off members of the community. Concepts such as a fair go, tolerance, services according to need rather than the capacity to pay, were all embraced as part of the Australian way of life.

Delegates at the Conference were unanimous in their view that these ideals were being lost in today's Australia.

The Conference then focused on the role of unions in addressing this shift in Australia.

Delegates stressed the need for union members to work collectively to campaign around issues of importance to them.

Delegates were of the view that unions have a role to play in campaigning for improvements in social policy, e.g. the protection and improvement of Medicare.

Delegates believed that HACSU, as the largest union in Tasmania, has a significant role to play in the debate about social policy.

The conference set the scene for delegates and members to continue the debate about these issues.

HACSU needs to continue this debate and involve members in developing policies around social issues, which impact on our members as part of their community.

There will be another conference next year, and consideration is being given to holding it over two days, to allow for more discussion and to provide more time for delegates to get together and discuss issues of common concern to us all.