MEMBER for Mallee Anne Webster says comments by union heavyweight John Setka that those involved in violent protests in Melbourne “may as well and go pick fruit in Mildura somewhere” were an insult to the region’s fruit producers.
Dr Webster said the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) secretary’s threats to organisers of the construction worker protests that they would not be working in the industry and should look at picking fruit showed “an utter disregard for the critical importance and significance of our regional horticulture industry”.
“Sunraysia fruit producers do not need this kind of disparaging insult,” Dr Webster said.
“It shows a severe lack of respect for an industry that punches well above it’s weight in terms of economic output for Victoria and, indeed, Australia,” she said.
“Mildura fruit growers don’t need the people described by Setka as ‘drunken morons’ offloaded into our valuable industry and region.
“The horticultural industry needs hard working, honest and sensible workers to boost production.”
Dr Webster said union bosses should be demonstrating constructive leadership and providing calculated responses in the face of unwanted violence, rather than dishing out disparaging remarks on regional communities.
“This week’s protests have demonstrated disappointing and inexcusable scenes of violence,” she said.
“Undoubtedly, there is a great deal of frustration among our construction workers, and understandably so — people are in pain.
“As a community, however, we must be careful not to inflict further pain onto others.”
“Resorting to violence is never OK — violence is not the answer.”
Dr Webster said those who make up the construction industry were hardworking, genuine and dependable people.
“Setka’s comments were dismissive and unfair, not only to the majority of appropriately behaved construction workers, but also to the regions who have been doing it tough.”
