Joe de Bruyn (born 1949), is an Australian trade union official. He is currently National Secretary and Treasurer of the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA), a Vice-President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) and a member of the National Executive of the Australian Labor Party (ALP). The SDA, which covers workers in the retail sector, is considered a right-wing trade union, particularly on social issues.

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  • Joe de Bruyn (born 1949), is an Australian trade union official. He is currently National Secretary and Treasurer of the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA), a Vice-President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) and a member of the National Executive of the Australian Labor Party (ALP). The SDA, which covers workers in the retail sector, is considered a right-wing trade union, particularly on social issues. It is the single most powerful voting block at ALP conferences, giving de Bruyn an important voice in the policy of both the ACTU and the ALP. De Bruyn is a leading figure in the right wing faction of the ALP. Born in the Netherlands, de Bruyn is a Catholic and social conservative. He opposes abortion, stem cell research, and lesbians gaining access to IVF treatment. In 2000, de Bruyn was instrumental in forcing the ALP to grant a conscience vote on the stem cell issue. De Bruyn publicly supported then Prime Minister John Howard's moves in August 2000 to change the Sex Discrimination Act, allowing Australian states to restrict lesbians from receiving IVF treatment. In 2002, de Bruyn opposed then Labor leader Simon Crean's attempts to increase the quota of women pre-selected to winnable Federal seats. Said de Bruyn:"I'm not persuaded we need a change. Women have reached senior positions in the party on their own merits. " On 25 October, 2003, former Australian Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam launched a public attack on de Bruyn, saying: "Joe de Bruyn is a Dutchman who hates dykes. " In 2007, de Bruyn was a lone but vocal critic of the policy for a federal same-sex relationship registry during the 2007 ALP National Conference.
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  • Joe de Bruyn (born 1949), is an Australian trade union official. He is currently National Secretary and Treasurer of the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA), a Vice-President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) and a member of the National Executive of the Australian Labor Party (ALP). The SDA, which covers workers in the retail sector, is considered a right-wing trade union, particularly on social issues.
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  • Joe de Bruyn
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