Labor Senators ‘don’t give a damn’ about jobs

MAY 11, 2017: LABOR senators can’t spent an extra few hours in Canberra to ensure thousands of workers get on the job sooner to build the Carmichael mine, port and rail line.This is the frustrating result of a series of last minute amendments and stalling in the Senate which has pushed off a vote on the Native Title Act for another month.Although Labor said they would support the necessary amendments to the Native Title Act which has essentially frozen a number of projects, including Adani’s Carmichael mine project, over indigenous land use agreements, they have managed to stall the process and further delay job creation.It’s just another example of the so-called ‘party of the workers’ failing to do what is necessary to support workers not only in Central and North Queensland, but also workers in South Australia at Arrium who will have job security through the company’s deal to supply steel to build the Carmichael rail line.The necessary amendments to the Native Title Act were scheduled for a vote in the Senate yesterday.But they were pushed off the agenda.They could have been put back on the agenda today, or Labor Senators could have agreed to sit tomorrow to get this legislation passed.But no. Labor Senators, with secure pay packets, fobbed off an extra few hours in Canberra and the people in my region who are desperate for the jobs the massive Carmichael project will create will be forced to wait for another month before this legal hurdle is dealt with.Shame on them.And I repeat the admonitions of my colleagues Senator Matt Canavan, and Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, regarding their leader’s Budget In Reply speech tonight.Don’t talk about jobs Mr Shorten, because your Senators have proven today that frankly, they don’t give a damn.