FED:Hung parlt a democratic strength: Greens=2

AAP General News (Australia)
08-21-2011
FED:Hung parlt a democratic strength: Greens=2

Treasurer Wayne Swan said he did not know whether the convoy would be meeting Prime
Minister Julia Gillard upon their arrival in Canberra.

"It's a free country, they're free to express their opinions in any way they like as
long as they do it lawfully and that's one of the great things about Australia," Mr Swan
told reporters at Chermside, in Brisbane's northern suburbs.

Mr Swan said he did not accept the proposition that the trucking industry, which is
largely unionised, had lost confidence in the Labor government.

"There are a broad range of people involved (in the convoy), but I don't accept some
sort of notion that at the core of this is a whole lot of people who are associated with
our government or with the Labor Party," he said on Sunday.

The National Road Freighters Association has organised the rally.

However, the major body representing truckies - the Australian Trucking Association
has distanced itself from the protest.

Australian Trucking Association spokesman Bill McKinley said the protesters' calls
for a fresh election were unrealistic.

"What they're asking for can't be delivered," he told the Canberra Times.

"This isn't a trucking industry protest, it only includes people from the trucking industry.

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KEYWORD: CONVOY 2 CANBERRA

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