WHO BUILT THIS CITY?

NOT TONY ABBOTT

The Minister for Work Place Relations, Tony Abbott, arrived in the federal parliament after the 1993 election. I'd been elected in the by-election for Bob Hawke's seat of Wills in April 1992 and after being disqualified in the High Court was returned as the member in the general election.

You might remember that the High Court - with the exception of William Deane - ruled that as a teacher on leave without pay I held an office of profit under the constitution. It would rank as one of the most political decisions ever handed down. More of that later.

Mike Symon - articulate ETU Shop Steward - at the MCG.

It's blokes like Mike Symon, not Tony Abbott, who build our cities. I visited the MCG last week and have to admit that it's some work site. It's not the kind of place you'd find the likes of Abbott. When Tony Abbott arrived in the parliament he was a wet behind the ears aspiring court jester.

His claim to fame was puerile points of order about the relevance of an ALP Minister's answers. He didn't strike me as someone who would have planted his feet in mud and clay in the bowels of the MCG. But it doesn't surprise me that he now wants to big note about controlling unions. Controlling unions is code for turning Mike Symon and the workers into contracted labourers with the rights of feudal serfs. Workers need to put him straight.

The redevelopment of the MCG will result in a ground ringed by stands that replicate the great southern stand seen above.

ONE MORE QUESTION, MR MIGHELL.

Despite spending more than $60m of our hard earned, the Cole Royal Commission produced next to nothing of relevance. And that which was relevant - bad practices by employers - was swept under the carpet. ETU secretary Dean Mighell spent more time in the box than any union official but again, when it was over what was proved?

The best Mr Abbott can propose is an inspection regime by which the Government will attempt to undermine the principles of collective bargaining. It's union breaking that's a priority for our man from the ACT.

The asbestos riddled Members Stand, from where Melbourne's original ruling class first looked down on the working class game of football.

Over the journey - here and on the ETU website www.etu.asn.au - we'll plot the development of the MCG and show the world how 'workers, not Ministers of the Crown, built this city'.