En Passant

This is a letter I sent to the Canberra Times on Thursday.

John

It appears that in the pre-selection process Minister Simon Corbell has lost support among many ACT Labor Party Left faction members. (Kirsten Lawson, ‘Ructions over Corbell exit’ The Canberra Times 27 August page 1.)

I have some suggestions to Simon to help restore his left credentials before he leaves the Assembly.

In his role as the ACT Attorney-General I suggest he no bill (ie take over and drop) the ridiculous blackmail case against CFMEU organiser, Johnny Lomax . That case criminalises ordinary union activity and is a threat to the very existence of unions in Australia.

In addition Corbell could call off the police raids on union offices as part of the Abbott witch hunt into unions and the ALP. (Nick McKenzie, Michael Inman, Michael Bachelard and Nick Toscano ‘Police raid ACT CFMEU office’ The Canberra Times 27 August page 1.)

If he doesn’t have the power or courage to do either, can I suggest then he publicly condemn the Royal Commission witch hunt and the particular actions mentioned above of Abbott’s attack dogs as soon as possible and pledge he will do all he can in his power to protect unions from Abbott’s full frontal attack on basic industrial and human rights? Over to you Simon.