Member

Amendment 216YD would also undo the effects of Clause 58 and continue to compel unions to hold regular review ballots on the question of maintaining their political fund. Instead of holding them every 10 years, however, the amendment would require unions to hold them every five years. The Government oppose 10-year review ballots for the reasons I have previously given. The amendment would go beyond current arrangements and place greater obligations on unions than is currently the case. As I have said, no political fund has ever been closed by members as a result of these review ballots, so we feel that they are unnecessary.