House debates
Wednesday, 22 March 2017
Questions without Notice
Workplace Relations
2:28 pm
Russell Broadbent (McMillan, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources. Will the Deputy Prime Minister update the House on why an affordable and reliable energy supply is vital to delivering the regional forestry agreements? Is the Deputy Prime Minister aware of any threats to jobs in Australia's sustainable timber industry?
2:29 pm
Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
I thank the honourable member for McMillan for his question and note his intense interest in the working men and women of Gippsland and the Central Highlands and the jobs that are at threat there today. I might note that the member for Calwell and the member for Shortland and maybe the member for Griffith and most certainly the member for Gorton, whose brother is in the building today trying to save jobs, should take notice of this as well. It seems amazing that, on a day when we have 250 people at Heyfield about to lose their jobs, we do not have a concentration by the Labor Party on labourers. It seems absolutely disgusting that we have to rely on our side of the House to go in to bat for these working men and women.
Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Members on my left. The member for Shortland!
Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
It seems an absolute absurdity that the Labor Party in Victoria are starving these forestry workers of their livelihoods. They are not getting access to timber. Apparently, there is a greater fascination in Leadbeater's possum than there is in the working men and women of Victoria, especially those associated with Heyfield. Might I remind the House there are about 21,000 jobs associated with the timber industry—21,000 well-paying jobs? It is an absolute travesty that we have a time in our nation where we are going forward, and the Labor Party are about to stand by and watch 750 working men and women at Hazelwood Power Station lose their jobs as they drive that state into destitution. The calamity that was South Australia is going to become the calamity which is Victoria. It is time that the Australian Labor Party actually start standing up for workers. It is time that the member for Calwell, who is looking down at her books, starts looking after the CFMEU—construction and forestry workers.
Opposition members interjecting—
Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
It is time for the member for Shortland to start looking after forestry workers. It is time for the member for Griffith to start looking after forestry workers. It is time for the member for Gorton to support his brother and look after forestry workers. But they are not. What they are doing is looking after the Greens. They have become tied to the Greens. They are now the party that represents Annandale. They have given up on forestry workers. They have given up on their heartland.
Opposition members interjecting—
Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
They have given up on what actually made them a party that was great one day. When is the member for Gorton going to support his brother, try and support these jobs and look after these jobs? When is the member for Gorton going to have the constitution to stand up and support forestry workers?
Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
The Deputy Prime Minister will resume his seat. Has the Deputy Prime Minister concluded his answer?
Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
No.
Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
The Manager of Opposition Business, on a point of order.
Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Simply with the management of the House, there has been a long-term practice that both sides have observed with respect to family members. It has worked well for the dignity of this place, and I would simply remind the Deputy Prime Minister of it.
Mr Joyce interjecting—
Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
The Deputy Prime Minister does not have the call. The Manager of Opposition Business, I gave latitude for that point of order. As he is aware, the standing orders do not cover it, but he is entitled to put his point of view.
Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
I have the greatest admiration for the member for Gorton's brother because at least he is here trying to look after jobs.
Opposition members interjecting—
Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
But what the Australian Labor Party is doing in Victoria is starving timber workers of access to their right to work.
Opposition members interjecting—
Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
The member for Bendigo will leave under 94(a).
The member for Bendigo then left the chamber.
Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
What we have to do is remind the Australian Labor Party that there is actually a group of people out there called labourers. They want a job, they need power and they need access to timber. (Time expired)
Stephen Jones (Whitlam, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Development and Infrastructure) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Two hours ago you were calling for—
Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
The member for Whitlam is warned. To make it very clear for those members, I am not going to endlessly keep warning them.