Sharon Claydon (Newcastle, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yesterday I attended an annual memorial service in the town of Cessnock, hosted by the CFMEU, northern mining and energy division. I was honoured to lay a wreath on behalf of the people of Newcastle at the Jim Comerford Miners Memorial Wall.

This is a wall that lists the names of 1,800 men, women and children—boys, primarily—who have been killed on mining leases in the Hunter region district coalfields over the years. There are few of us from the Newcastle and Hunter region who do not have family members who have been victims of accidents and either injured at the coalfields or indeed killed.

It was an absolute honour to lay the wreath on this occasion and reflect on the incredible, noble work that the trade union movement does in the area to ensure the health and safety of those who work in dangerous industries.

I know that there are many people in this parliament who regard this union as public enemy No. 1, but I would like to put on record the noble work that this union does in terms of ensuring that miners, who put their lives at risk every day, are kept safe. (Time expired)