'Our" ALP and Work Choices

In an exchange with 2UE's Mike Carlton, NSW Transport Minister John Watkins said he had requested the Australian Industrial Relations Commission use the Howard government's controversial laws to put a stop to possible strike action:

Mr Watkins: We have got a set of industrial laws that are in place in Australia and we have to use those.

Carlton: But they are Howard's WorkChoices laws.

Mr Watkins: Well, until the law is changed, that is the law of the land.

Carlton: And a state Labor government is going to use Howard's WorkChoices legislation to crush a union?

Mr Watkins: I can see you are enjoying this aspect of it.

Carlton: There is a rich irony.