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No Authority To
Make Missions
Observe Awards
The Australian Govern-
ment had no power to in-
terfere in the domestic ar-
rangements of diplomatic
missions, the Acting Mini-
ster for External Affairs,
Mr. Menzies, said yester-
day.
Many of them employed
their own nationals or
nationals of countries other
than Australia.
Mr. Menzies was givink
Mr. Menzies was giving
question asked in the
House of Representatives
by, Mr. Fraser (Lab.,
A.C.T.).
Mr. Fraser asked:
"Will the Prime Minister
consider initiating discus-
sions between officers of
the Department of Exter-
nal Affairs and the heads
of the diplomatic missions
in Canberra with a view to
securing an agreement un-
der which members of the
staffs of diplomatic mis-
sions here employing
labour, either in a domes-
tic, household or other
capacity, would undertake
to pay award wages to, and
provide award conditions
for those employees?
"Will he also seek an
undertaking that all em-
ployee of the staffs of dip-
lomatic missions, in Can-
berra win be covered by
insurance under the wor-
kers' compensation ordin-
ance?. The Prime Minister
can accept my assurance
that cases of real hardship have occurred which, I believe, could be obviated with goodwill on both sides."
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