Fed: Labor row on free trade to dominate day 2 of conference

AAP General News (Australia)
08-01-2000
Fed: Labor row on free trade to dominate day 2 of conference

A heated row over free trade is expected to dominate the second day of the Labor party
federal conference in Hobart today.

Left wing unions, led by the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, is behind a push
for the ALP to dump its support for free trade.

Union secretary DOUG CAMERON instead wants Labor to commit to fair trade, and to support
local manufacturing jobs against competition from factories in Asia.

However, Opposition Leader KIM BEAZLEY and Labor's trade spokesman PETER COOK have
reaffirmed their support for free and open trade.

It's expected the union's push will be soundly defeated on the conference floor, but
not before a vigorous debate about the merits of lower trade barriers.

Mr BEAZLEY used his opening speech at the conference yesterday to announce new policies
on health and education, committing the ALP to a Medicare alliance with the states to
shore up the ailing national health system.

And Mr BEAZLEY promised the ALP in government would set up special education zones,
where money would be poured into disadvantaged schools to boost literacy, school retention
rates and university admission rates.

But Health Minister MICHAEL WOOLDRIDGE says a Medicare alliance will divide the national
health system into six separate bodies.

The conference has also unanimously endorsed Labor's policy to roll back the GST.

AAP RTV jg/gmw/nf

KEYWORD: ALP (HOBART)

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