Kelty, Bill

Bill Kelty has been a key figure in the Australian union movement for over 30 years. Born in Melbourne in 1948, Bill began his career as an Industrial Officer at the Federated Storeman & Packers' Union in 1970, having completed his Bachelor of Economics Degree in 1969.

From there, Bill went on to become a Research Officer for the Worker's Education Association in Adelaide in 1974. In the same year the Australian Council of Trade Unions requested Bill to prepare and present the Minimum Wage Case on behalf of the Port Moresby Council of Trade Unions.

November 1974 saw him appointed as Research Officer/Advocate for the ACTU. At the 1977 Congress he was elected Assistant Secretary and in February 1983 was appointed Secretary, a position he held for 17 years.

In his time as ACTU Secretary, Bill most notably achieved praise for his involvement in establishing the wages accord. When Labor was elected in 1983, the first priority was restoring growth after the recession of the early 1980s. A key factor in achieving this was a centralised wage-fixing system which delivered restraint and certainty to employers.

Bill was most influential in pushing for reform, believing that an inward-looking, protectionist economy would not protect jobs. Long and bitter debates were needed to convince many of the wisdom of this policy. He helped give union officials a greater understanding of the need for a competitive economy for the betterment of workers.

After resigning from the ACTU in August 1999, Mr Kelty stated "It has always been a privilege to work for workers and their unions. Working people make a substantial contribution to the nation. In creating and sustaining the productive wealth of this country they deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. They earn the right to fair treatment and decent wages so they can look after their families, and feed, clothe and educate their children. This is what unions do best, fighting for the rights of working people.”

Aside from his work with the ACTU, Bill has also been active in other roles. Since 1977 Bill has been a Member of the National Labor Consultative Council and from1987-1996 was a Member of Reserve Bank Board. He was also Chairman of the Commonwealth Government Regional Development Taskforce and from 1994-1998 a member of NETTFORCE. In February 1998, Bill became a member of the AFL Commission.