Alannah Mactiernan (Perth, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yesterday we saw the Abbott government introduce changes to the Migration Act so that Australians will no longer have priority of employment in offshore gas and oil projects. Resource companies will no longer even have to try to find Australian workers. Last night I was contacted by a gentleman called Kevin. He said, 'Thanks for your support for Australian jobs for seafarers. I myself work on the Wheatstone Project at Onslow at WA soon to be completed—'

Government Members:

Government members interjecting—

Alannah Mactiernan (Perth, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It might be funny for the coalition that there are people unemployed in Western Australia, but I can tell you that for Western Australians it is not funny. Kevin continued, 'I am a 51-year-old seafarer. My chances of getting another job in the industry are bleak. It amazes me that the coalition wants to deregulate 457 visas in this sector.'

Kevin is one of hundreds of workers on the Wheatstone Project that are working on pipelaying vessels and on supply tenders. These workers would normally have expected to go on to the next WA project in the Ichthus, but the Italian company subcontracting that work for INPEX is now indicating that they will be using foreign crews. There are already hundreds of qualified and experienced seafarers looking for work in WA. Soon there will be hundreds more. This legislation most unfairly undermines their chances of work. Let us hope the Senate blocks this ridiculous legislation.