The Opposition's Industrial Relations spokesman Stephen Smith says trade unions played a vital role in occupational health and safety training which ultimately aided the rescue effort.
Mr Smith says the union movement can not be separated from occupational health and safety, mine safety and mine rescue.
He says after the last two weeks the Prime Minister John Howard's public position on unions has become untenable.
"Part of our occupational health and safety fabric, part of our mine safety fabric, part of our mine rescue fabric is the involvement of the trade union movement."
"John Howard's public policy position is that he doesn't see a role for the trade union movement in the social and economic affairs of Australian society."
Mr Smith says; "His Work Choices legislation reflects that. And bill after bill that they've put into parliament on occupational health and safety reflects that."