Of course, apart from galvanizing the general membership, the first public priority for the union is to defend and advance the position of its co-chair of the DFC Commission of Inquiry, Merlene Bailey Martinez. As we've been reporting, Bailey-Martinez has written the Prime Minister asking him not to accept the Lord report.
Martinez's position is that Lord has been unavailable for meetings; while Lord's position is that the final report had discussed, and committed to - and it was Bailey doing the foot dragging. Lord's position is bolstered by this letter that 7NEWS has obtained. It is addressed to the Prime Minister and dated February 8 of 2007. It states that the commission expects that report to be completed by March 20, 2007.
Well now, the union's position is that whatever had been said, the work is not finished; key witnesses are still left to appear, and Lord's deliberation is not the commission's deliberation. Today, PSU President Willoughby-Sanchez said she hopes the PM does not accept the Lord report.
Jackie Willoughby-Sanchez,
"I hope that the Prime Minister did not yet accept that report from the other Co-chair because the Act is very clear in section 6. The Commissioners who hold this ought to be the ones to do the report, not one. So any singular report can only be deemed to be a submission and not necessarily a report. If you note the news, it says the Cabinet Secretary accepted."
Jules Vasquez,
He told me he has handed it to the Prime Minister, that's what he told me yesterday afternoon.
Jackie Willoughby-Sanchez,
"We'll leave the issue of the Cabinet Secretary for another seminar or meeting but I want to say in all fairness to the Prime Minister that the country, particularly the unions, we are waiting to hear what his response will be on it is he has received, if he has received it. It is at that point then we will make comments. But in all fairness to him we can't bash anybody who we don't know if they've gotten any report. It is said to be in his office, that is a different thing."
Jules Vasquez,
I think you're being semantic here, the Cabinet Secretary can speak for the Prime Minister. It is not all of us who can speak for the Prime Minister but the Cab Sec speaks for him on a very regular basis. I am saying Jackie, the cat's in the cradle.
Jackie Willoughby-Sanchez,
"Let's give him a chance to show us what the cat looks like before we make a comment on it. The outcome we expect, is fairness and the people who owe the money will pay."
The Cabinet Secretary says the PM is digesting the report, and is expected to make an announcement on it when he is done.
