13 Dec 2011

Australasian unions say Fiji regime must be hiding something

8:15 am on 13 December 2011

Australian and New Zealand trade union leaders say the Fiji interim regime is concealing something if it won't let their fact-finding mission into the country.

The leaders of the two countries' umbrella unions were due to meet with Fiji workers, employers and union representatives during a three day visit this week.

The interim regime has said the group is now not welcome as it has pre-determined views and they will be turned back if they try to enter the country.

But President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions Ged Kearney says they have had no official word from the regime.

She says the interim Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum invited them to come and they will fly to Fiji tomorrow

"It seems to us that he's definitely changed his mind and that that was nothing but words. he seems very much to have something to hide or something that he doesn't want us to see."

Ged Kearney says the regime's claim the union has called for Fiji to be blacklisted is a gross exaggeration.