Debates Day 4 - Tuesday 9 May 2017
Parliamentary Record 5
Debates for 13th Assembly 2016 - 2018; ParliamentNT; Parliamentary Record; 13th Assembly 2016 - 2020
2017-05-09
pp 1623 to 1686
Made available by the Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory
English
Debates
Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory
Darwin
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Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory
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https://hdl.handle.net/10070/271438
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/432640
DEBATES Tuesday 9 May 2017 1686 is an understatement. All walks of life and all professions proudly walk, carry flags and banners, dance and sing their way through this amazing celebration. It is as much a celebration of their freedom and way of life as it is for their workers rights. The pride with which the Cuban people celebrate May Day is not fabricated in any way, shape or form. The passion reflected through this celebration is reflected through every other level of their lives. We witnessed the comradery right through the community and the pride with which they spoke regarding the low unemployment levels, education systems, health systems and the general ingenuity they use daily to go about their business. It is something to behold and something they are rightfully proud of. It is with similar pride I recall helping to organise some of our May Day celebrations in Darwin during my time with the Electrical Trades Union and through being Secretary of Unions NT for a couple of years. I take this opportunity to recognise a number of people who have helped through Unions NT, in past and present roles, and their involvement in the May Day march and celebrations this year. The march through the streets of Darwin, from Woods Street to the esplanade, through the wonderful CBDmy electorateof Port Darwin, took many weeks of organising. In this day and age, in our fast-paced lives and careers it is a huge effort for a bunch of very committed volunteers. I acknowledge this years May Day committee, which included Bryan Wilkins, Bronwyn Channon, Francis Koulakis, Christine von Wootten, Kay Densley, Mick Huddy and Dave Strawbs Hayes. I recognise the winners of Delegate of the Year, which is an honour bestowed upon one delegate from each affiliated union in recognition of their dedicated efforts above and beyond the call of duty. This year from United Voice was Debbi Lees; from the AMWU was Terry Barnes; from the CFMEU was Tony McConnell; from the AEU was Trevor Collins; from the CPSU was Alma Hanna; from the ANMF NT was Kay Stevens; from the MUA was Rick Brewster; from the ACTU was Red Woolley, who helped out a lot through the Build a Better Future campaign; from the ETU was Daniel Burns; and Wayne Kurnoth from One Mob, the Indigenous union movement. I understand the amount of time, effort and energy that all of these people put in. A very special award was given out for lifetime achievement to Rod Promnitz and the late Curly Nixon, so there were a couple of very touching moments at the dinner when those awards were announced. As a proud previous winner of one of these awards, I know firsthand how passionate these people are. Delegates do not get paid extra to perform in their roles and it often takes up hours of personal time each week. They are the first people who workers turn to when something goes wrong. They are part-time safety representatives, part-time mediators, part-time marriage counsellors and full-time technical experts, all the while performing their substantial role, often under much scrutiny from management. I also acknowledge Erina Early, Thomas Mayor and Kay Densley for their untiring efforts through Unions NT and Alan Hopper Paton and Bryan Wilkins for their commitment over many years to May Day celebrations and the unions they respectively work for. Lastly, I thank the sponsors for the May Day Dinner over the weekend: the Northern Territory Government; Cbus; Hall Payne; Coverforce; Statewide Super; Halfpennys; and HESTA. I will finish by noting with great interest that this Michael Gunner Labor-led government proudly supports the May Day dinner, supports Territory jobs and stands with NT workers, which is a far cry from what they got under the previous regime. Motion agreed to; the Assembly adjourned.