Norman Is an Island

42 ALREWfW please; he made his new action thriller pose most of us are) that nothing suc way. That's America, that's Arnold, a pacifist movie. Like World War I was ceeds like success, which is something and that's why the world loves him. the war to end all wars, presumably. he has more than enough of. He claims his life is testament to the American (P.S. If you read this, Arnold, what are What, then, is the consensus on this dream; he is the archetypal conserva the chances of an interview?) undeniably powerful man? He seems tive immigrant, eager to fit in. He's unhappy, insecure and not a little also committed 100% to getting DAVID NICHOLS is a Sydney scared. Leigh's book alone should ahead, and only occasionally allows j oumalis t who likes to think of himself have given him a few sleepless nights, himself the luxury of looking back to as Australia's greatest expert on the life unless he is firmly convinced (as I sup see who he's trampled on along the and times of Patrick Swayze. Norman is an Island Inside the BLF by Brian Boyd ly misguided attempt to thwart 'educating' the progressive union (Ocean Press, 1991). Reviewed by criminal proceedings brought against movement); the bizarre sectarianism him alleging corruption. This self-in of seeing John Halfpenny's defeat for Jeff Shaw. terest displayed itself in the otherwise the Senate in 1987 as a victory, marred inexplicable somersaults between only (in Gallagher's worldview) by The tragic, labyrinthine rise calls for industrial peace, and declara the return of the Hawke government. and fall of the Builders tions of guerrilla warfare. Labourers Federation in the Yet, while it serves a useful purpose, I 1970s and 1980s has never been Gallagher's strategy may have regret to say that this is not a very properly chronicled. Yet it is a stemmed from some form of primitive good book. It is basically a patchy maoism: a view that militant workers tale full of drama, irony, human diary of events which are mostly on could, by their pressure on employers, the public record. In fairness, it is foibles and worse which had a sway the Crown (the capitalist state) worth noting that it does incorporate substantial impact upon to drop criminal charges against a some BLF minutes and internal Australian industrial and union leader. This was naive and memoranda of interest. But it political life of the era. futile. The Victorian government of provides no real insight into the John Cain had established an inde psychology of Gallagher and his sup This book has been produced by a pendent prosecuting authority, the porters. To what extent was some former full-time official of the BLF DPP. It took the view that it would genuine ideology important? What who has become a strong critic of the have been absolutely wrong for was the role of the maoists—and, in role of the federation's general politicians to intervene in an 'arms- particular, Melbourne barrister Ted secretary, Norm Gallagher, in leading length' process. In any event, it would Hill—in determining tactics? What the union to virtual destruction. have been politically suicidal for the were the internal conflicts in strategic Labor government to have done so. decision-making? How did the BLF Brian Boyd argues that the 1986 The charges—based upon Gallagher's secretary's supporters view his un deregistration of the BLF—facilitated construction of a beach house using doubted receipt of significant by unique, radical legislation of the employers' resources, allegedly ex employer largesse? These questions federal Labor government—was both tracted by threat—had a momentum are not satisfactorily dealt with. In avoidable and unnecessary. He main which was unstoppable. For the BLF deed, in relation to some of them, tains that the 'united front' forged by leadership to jeopardise the union's greater insight is obtainable from Gallagher with the Master Builders existence in some quixotic endeavour Mundey's 1981 book, Green Bans and Association in the mid-1970s to to keep Norm out of Jail was both Beyond. remove Jack Mundey's leadership of unfair to the membership and folly for the NSW BLF—and to eliminate its the organisation. trail-blazing environmental cam The full story is yet to be told. Perhaps paigns—was the genesis of the even In other ways, too, the BLF leadership one close observer, Dr Meredith tual lethal coalition against the emerges discredited from this ac Burgmann, who has forsaken the national leadership, leading to the count: the naked alliance with tranquility of academic life for Labor recruitment of the BLF membership employers to destroy Mundey's posi politics, may yet find the time to by other unions in NSW, Victoria and tion and to keep him unemployed for produce a deeper analysis. the ACT in the late 1980s. years; the disastrous theory of glorious defeat (in 1986, Gallagher JEFF SHAW is a NSW shadow As Boyd shows, Gallagher's misuse of was arguing that "if they hang us" it minister, and editor of the journal militant industrial tactics was a whol would serve a historical purpose in Labor Forum. ALR: FEBRUARY 1992.

Load more