Federal Labor says Sydney rail chaos is not a strike

Labor’s Federal industrial relations minister Tony Burke said Monday’s rail chaos in Sydney was a not a strike, rather a “Liberal government lockout”.

Federal opposition leader and alternative Sydneysider prime minister Anthony Albanese has left questions about Monday’s train chaos to his shadow industrial relations minister Tony Burke to answer.

“This is not a strike, it’s a Liberal government lockout,” said Mr Burke, who went on to slam Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s rhetoric about the industrial action.

“I don’t usually get involved in state disputes, but when you have Scott Morrison out there claiming the trains aren’t running because of a strike, he needs to be called out,” he told The Daily Telegraph.

Tony Burke MP during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“We’ve heard Mr Morrison tell lies before, and this is just another example.”

“He’s angry with the unions for two reasons: They are fighting for secure jobs and better pay, and his government is doing everything it can to keep wages low.”

Making a pitch for Labor, Mr Burke claimed that “only an Albanese Labor Government will deliver secure jobs, better pay, and a fairer system.

The Labor frontbencher’s comments came in response to those of Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who blasted transport unions Monday.

“The union movement has decided to really pull the rug out on our first day back,” he told 2GB’s Ben Fordham.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison in interviewed by Ben Fordham on air during an earlier appearance at 2GB. Picture: AAP Image/Joel Carrett

“This is just not how you behave and this is not how you treat your fellow citizens.

“We’ve had nurses, we’ve had teachers, we’ve had police officers and everyone working hard through the pandemic.

“We’ve got international arrivals opening up today and the union’s welcome to them will be a train strike.

“I mean, this is not how this should be done and I feel for all of those Sydneysiders today who are affected by the strike,” he said.