Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

The member for Wright talks about overtaking iron ore. Indeed, without those two industries, without our great miners—our brave miners—where would we be?

This bill creates a voluntary pathway for employers to pay historical debts related to unpaid portable long service leave levies of employees in the black coal industry. We know that workers in that industry often change employer. They often go from mine to mine, employer to employer, and they take their experience with them. They take their know-how, their skills, and they move about. As I said, the black coal industry remains a critical pillar of Australia's economy. Anybody who comes into this place and decries coalminers—I know the member for Paterson wouldn't; I think she's the daughter of a coalminer, and she's nodding, she says that's correct—or the coal industry is decrying Australia. They are going against what this nation stands for—those miners who have helped build this nation, those miners who have made this country what it is today. We should say to them: 'Thank you. We are grateful. We are appreciative. We look forward to you doing more in the future.'

This bill will enable the employers to ensure that they provide the support that is needed. The coalition supports this bill and we very much support the industry. It is an industry that backs tens of thousands of workers, an industry that has provided so much hope and aspiration, fulfilled the dreams of so many Australians. Industry has welcomed the legislation. The minister's intention to grant extension of time for repayment plans are in light of ongoing litigation. We don't want to see too much of that, because of lapsed legislation or procrastination within this place, when we line the pockets of lawyers. That's not a good thing. That's not an outcome for anybody. That's why the bill is important.

The Australian Industry Group says that many businesses would face hardship and potential insolvency if required to pay historical levy debts immediately. A large number of jobs were at risk. Therefore, the introduction of the bill into parliament is very welcome. We recognise that the bill needed to strike a balance between the interests of all parties. This balance was achieved following the government's lengthy consultation process, in which the Australian Industry Group was heavily involved. That's an interesting thing, because all too often—I stand in this place and I speak on most bills—we find that the government hasn't done the proper consultation, unfortunately. Often we have found, particularly in this term of parliament, that the government is all too willing to rush legislation through the parliament without proper debate, clamping down, nullifying debate, gagging democracy, sending the legislation off to the other place and hoping for the best over there.

I do hope that when this bill goes to the other place the senators can see reason and will understand that this has received bipartisan support. I'm not sure where the Greens stand on this. Then again, who would be sure where the Greens stand on anything, quite frankly. We saw that little stunt by the member for Ryan this morning—just unbelievable, quite frankly. If the Greens are ever the answer to a policy in this place, it must be a pretty stupid question.

The opposition supports passage of this bill. We support wholeheartedly—vehemently—the black coal industry. I know that sometimes, for those opposite, saying the words 'black coal' must make them feel like they want to grab a glass of water and wash their mouth out. I know that in the Treasurer's first budget he couldn't bring himself to say 'black coal' or even 'coal'. They were words he just wasn't able to say. He described them as 'the things we sell overseas, the things that make our wealth'—the things that helped make his budget surplus.

Again, I say that we should be applauding our coalmining workers. Without their work, without their effort—their zeal, their determination, their commitment, their perspiration—we wouldn't have that great industry, we wouldn't be able to keep the lights on, and we wouldn't be able to turn the wheels of industry and manufacturing in this nation and also provide a great export. I say again, thank you coalmining workers.

This bill will go towards delivering certainty, stability and fairness while also strengthening the confidence of the coal long service leave scheme. I'd note that the member for Fenner has texted me saying, 'Thank you for the kind words'—and I look forward to his next book, his next publication, where perhaps he might bring himself to exalt and applaud the efforts of our coalminers. I appreciate that he is a member representing many Canberra constituents. This city, great city that it is, would not be the capital of Australia that it is without the beautiful roads and infrastructure—something that has been acknowledged by visiting parliamentarians and world leaders—without black coal, without the mining industry, without those hard workers from the member for Wright's electorate and no doubt the member for Dawson's and others besides.

They're the workers who are doing the hard yards. They're the workers we should be very much applauding. Many of them, as the member for Wright comments, are FIFO workers—fly in, fly out workers. The former member for New England, Tony Windsor, an Independent, and I did an inquiry into fly in, fly out workers. That inquiry report is called Cancer of the bush, or salvation of our cities? The member for McEwen was also on that committee. We did some good work. We took a lot of evidence from mining workers at Moranbah and elsewhere, and by gee they do a mighty job. I know the member for McEwen understands that as well. Families spend a lot of time away from home. They come from the member for Moncrieff's electorate and from electorates right across Australia. Indeed, they come from my electorate, to work in Queensland or to work in Western Australia, whatever the case might be.

So thank you, coalmining workers. This is important legislation. It's got the support of the coalition, and let's see that it hopefully gets through the Senate as well.

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