Vic: Talks underway on special Games agreement with unions

AAP General News (Australia)
12-17-2001
Vic: Talks underway on special Games agreement with unions

By Ben Packham, State Political Correspondent

MELBOURNE, Dec 17 AAP - Building workers could receive special payments in return for
industrial peace on Commonwealth Games construction sites.

Commonwealth Games minister Justin Madden today said talks were underway with building
unions and construction companies on a Games-specific industrial agreement to ensure venues
were completed on time.

Mr Madden said an additional allowance for workers on Games sites could form part of such a deal.

"We would be discussing those issues with the appropriate construction companies, and
that may well be an over-arching agreement in relation to industrial issues," he told
reporters today.

Mr Madden said talks were in the early stages, and there could be specific conditions
in relation to particular Games sites.

He said any final deal would be signed off by the construction companies with the support
of the government.

"We're eager to support those construction companies to ensure that projects are delivered
on time and on budget," he said.

Mr Madden made the comments today after giving final approval for the $425 million
upgrade of the MCG.

Work is expected to begin in April and be completed in September - six months before
the Games begin in March 2006. The capacity of the ground will be increased to 100,000.

Work will be scheduled to ensure 80,000 seats for each AFL Grand Final during the construction
period, Mr Madden said.

A special agreement with building workers would come on top of already wide-ranging
powers held by the government to ensure venues are completed in time for the Games.

The powers give police the right to remove protesters from construction sites, and
to override heritage protection.

Mr Madden said Games legislation also meant the government could extend working hours
if projects had to be fast-tracked.

AAP bp/clr/mg/bwl

KEYWORD: GAMES

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