King’s broadside emblematic of union hold on Labor

It should come as no surprise that the federal Labor government has delivered a broadside to BHP (“Labor lands King hit on the Big Australian”. 30/8). Scratch the skin of Labor and there will emerge an “anti-big business” sentiment, aligned with that of associated unions. The fact such criticism comes from Resources Minister Madeleine King, whose seat is in Western Australia, the iron ore powerhouse state of Australia, is however a surprise. Indications are that the government is slipping in voter popularity and needs at least to hold all of its seats at the next federal election to retain the Treasury benches. Labor holds a third of the seats in the House of Representatives in WA, with one of those seats held by a margin of less than 1 per cent. Why go to war now? The possible answer is that Labor is getting edgy about its re-election prospects and that edginess is manifesting itself in frustrated utterances. Ms King claims BHP has always railed against Labor policy. At the same time Labor has consistently railed against business in Australia, enshrining its ideology in legislation making businesses increasingly harder to operate. The new labour laws are an example. The Resources Minister would be better to build bridges with BHP rather than attack it.

Tim Sauer, Brighton East, Vic

Australia’s wealth of resources, having bolstered employment numbers and underpinned economic growth through mining royalties, is now being targeted by the Labor government. Alongside the economically baseless scheme proposed by the Greens to increase taxation on major businesses, Labor is reinforcing union power through its IR reforms. Both these parties support reckless ideas that will have a grave effect on our already ailing economy. Mining companies like BHP must thrive, not be strangled by unions with support from the long arm of the Labor Party.

Elaine Shergis, Mosman Park, WA

Minister King’s “Yes, we are a Labor government” exemplifies the narrow sectional interests that this government serves. The Albanese government is not just delivering outcomes in substance and process that are consistent with Labor’s values. It goes much further. It is delivering outcomes for its key constituency at the expense of the interests of others in the Australian community – in the case of King’s speech, business. We electors do understand that governments base their decisions on the values they say they hold and that when we vote for a change of government we expect to see a values-based difference. Yes, Minister, we do know a Labor government when we see one. But we do not give a licence to any government to act against the national and other interests when it acts in favour of a sectional interest. Good governments reconcile those sectional and national interests. Minister King has revealed that is not how the Albanese government thinks and acts.

Michael Angwin, Hawthorn, Vic

I find it astounding that Resources Minister Madeleine King could be so fundamentally flawed in her judgment and behaviour towards a major employer and taxpayer in this country. BHP has been one of the mainstays of Australian industry for decades and, as such, I would have thought would command some respect from people in government. King seems to think companies such as BHP should be subservient to unions in the best interest of industrial harmony. King needs to take a step back and learn a little about objectivity before she lashes out at people or organisations that contribute significantly to our nation. Unions have never been, nor will they likely ever be, true friends of employers; indeed, to some unions the employer is the enemy and there to be taken down at every opportunity. Employers such as BHP continually search for new ways to improve productivity, the formula for which includes reducing costs or getting a bigger bang for your buck. The Albanese government has made this more difficult through its over-the-top industrial relations reforms executed to appease the unions. People such as King in the Albanese government speak with forked tongue when they say they are friends of business.

John George, Terrigal, NSW

BHP is doing its job, Madeleine King, which is to serve the interests of its shareholders. You should try serving the interests of your shareholders, who are the Australian public, not the unions.

Trevor Farrant, Hackney, SA