Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Hansard source

I have explained that we are providing $300 million of assistance, which is out over the five-year period; I have explained that we are part of a broader set of measures that are not just confined to the $300 million; and all I have heard from those opposite is that they will not support it. What I have also heard from BlueScope and from OneSteel is that decisions in regard to the redundancy have absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the question of the climate change legislation. They were very explicit about that, very direct and very much to the point. It is a pity you did not hear them.

But workers of this country are now listening to you, and they want to know where you stand in terms of your support for the working people of this country. All I have heard so far is that you are not prepared to back the steelworkers of this country and you are not really prepared to back manufacturing workers of this country. All you want to do is to move the legislation to make it easier to sack them. Your only interest in blue-collar workers is whether or not you can get a cheap headline for the short term. You have no interest in the long-term future of working people of this country. (Time expired)