Kathy Jackson, national secretary of the Health Services Union, has addressed the H.R. Nicholls Society in Melbourne.
Jackson has been criticised by other unionists for her decision to speak to the organisation generally regarded as anti-union and once described by Prime Minister Bob Hawke as a group of “political troglodytes and economic lunatics”.
Transcript of Kathy Jackson’s speech to the H.R. Nicholls Society.
I have been attacked for agreeing to speak to you tonight because you are seen as the enemies of trade unionism.
I speak in my personal capacity tonight, not as an official of the HSU.
I happen to think that dialogue is important. Including with those with whom I disagree on matters that are important to me.
I am sure that there are very great differences that will be remain between how I see the world and how some of you see it.
I think it better that we have a dialogue about those differences rather than to simply call each other names.
I am sure that, at the end of the day, much of what separates us comes down to matters of deep philosophical outlook, not to mention fundamental differences about matters of economics and how the greatest good can be achieved in society. [Read more…]
Thomson’s speech began with a lengthy history of his working career with the union and his work as the Labor member for Dobell. 
At the heart of this Gillard Labor government lies the truth that it is an illegitimate government. The government is not only illegitimate but also hopelessly divided. Only today we read how Labor backbenchers are at war with each other about policy decisions taken by their own party. It is a tale of zombies and daleks. The members—described by one of their own as ‘zombies’—are generally too frightened to speak out. The factional warlords—the ‘daleks’, according to one past leader—are angry at their loss of power and influence.