October & November 2020 Parliamentary Political Report.

The Labor Upper House team had a busy end to the sitting year. Amongst this eventful sitting period, we referred the Premier to ICAC and the Leader of the Government in the Upper House was suspended from the House for the first time since 1998, for failing to produce documents related to the Stronger Community Fund. We also saw continued infighting within the Berejiklian Government, where a Liberal member of the Legislative Council, Catherine Cusack, crossed the floor to vote down a deeply flawed Government Bill that would have further weakened koala and other environmental protections in our State.

Significant legislation, the Electricity Infrastructure Investment Bill passed both houses of Parliament, it substantially reforms the energy sector. Adam Searle, Labor’s Leader in the Upper house and Shadow Minister for Energy, led for Labor and ensured that our amendments greatly strengthened the legislation. The amendments mandate local content requirements, guarantee local jobs, industry development and export opportunities, and the expansion of education and training opportunities for apprentices and trainees. Labor has also delivered two new Renewable Energy Zones, which had been left out by the Berejiklian Government. A new Renewable Energy Zone in both the Hunter-Central Coast region and the Illawarra will make certain that existing electricity infrastructure and manufacturing industries are able to adapt and expand to meet the needs of the renewable energy sector.

Orders for Papers

During the November sitting, I was able to successfully lead Labor in several votes for Orders for Papers that will help Labor hold the Berejiklian Government to account.

New Intercity Fleet

There are a large amount of concerns with the New Intercity Fleet so ensuring Labor has access to documents regarding these issues is very important. The Liberal and Nationals disregarded NSW manufacturers and instead chose to build trains offshore, sending taxpayers' money and jobs to South Korea, claiming that they were cheaper than our local manufacturers. Now we have seen the fleet's costs skyrocket by more than 1 billion dollars. We have witnessed problem after problem, the trains were too wide for the tunnels and too long for the railway stations, there’s been a grave lack of appropriate consultation and constant delays despite promises that the trains would be delivered in 2019. The most troubling issues are the significant safety concerns, including removing vital train guards, some 90 per cent of transport workers who were surveyed said that they would not staff the fleet when it comes into service because of their safety concerns.

The Rail Train and Bus Union has long been advocating for these transport workers and calling for the Berejiklian Government to ensure that safety measures are implemented. The Government has forced stakeholders, including disability groups, into signing non-disclosure agreements, which means many are prevented from speaking out on crucial safety issues. The call for papers is necessary to see information on these South Korean trains that have had extensive problems and have been shrouded in secrecy.

Please read my speech here or take a look at the videos below:

Following the Order for Papers, I also brought the Parliament’s attention to a new independent review of the trains, which found the operating model is not safe and there are serious safety concerns.

Please read my speech here or take a look at the video below: 

Western Sydney Airport and the Aerotropolis

I successfully led a debate in the Upper House regarding the Western Sydney Airport and the Aerotropolis. The Berejiklian Government is now obligated to provide documents regarding properties that were acquired by the NSW Government and its agencies for the Western Sydney Airport and the Western Sydney Aerotropolis and associated infrastructure and transport projects. Greg Warren, Labor’s Shadow Minister for Western Sydney was also instrumental in holding the Government to account on this important issue.

The Western Sydney Airport is a joint project between the Federal and State Government, requiring a significant portion of land to be purchased. These papers are important as we recently learned that the Federal Government misused taxpayer money to pay over 30 million dollars for land for the Western Sydney Airport. A later valuation determined it was worth only 3 million dollars. The AFP are investigating and the Auditor-General's report said that appropriate due diligence for the purchase was not adhered to. Additionally, the Berejiklian Government squandered taxpayers dollars in a toxic land deal at Camellia, paying over $53.5 million for worthless land that will now take over $100 million of taxpayers’ money to clean up the site, which is riddled with cancer-causing materials. We need to ensure that the Berejiklian Government is held accountable for any land purchases where appropriate due diligence has not been followed.

Please read the debate here or take a look at the video below: 

Noetic Bushfire Reports

Sadly, the 2019‑20 fires were preceded by other fires with devastating effects for communities, including the Tathra fire of 2018. During these fires, some members of our community were badly let down—not by the firefighters who were employed to serve them but by the structures and systems in place that failed. As a consequence of that failure, at least 69 homes were destroyed and more were damaged. The inquiry conducted by former Australian Police Commissioner Mick Keelty into how the Bega Valley bushfires were so badly handled considered a range of issues. There were 26 recommendations coming out of that inquiry and the board of commissioners then commissioned another body—a company called Noetic—to give an opinion on those recommendations.

We have not heard anything about this report or been able to access it. We know it exists because the State Secretary of the Fire Brigade Employees Union, Leighton Drury, had been told about it, as were other members of the RFS. The report disappeared without a trace. This call for papers is important to see what has happened to this significant information.

Please read the debate here or see me speak on the issue below: 

Motions in the House

Ausgrid

The Upper House voted 22-14, to pass my motion calling on Ausgrid’s CEO to reverse the decision to axe the jobs of Ausgrid workers. Amidst a global pandemic and a recession, Ausgrid announced that 230 jobs will be cut in January 2021, a further 270 jobs are proposed to be axed prior to 2024. The further cuts will take the total job cuts towards 3,000 jobs lost in Ausgrid alone and a total of 5,500 in the New South Wales supply authorities, including Ausgrid, Endeavour Energy, TransGrid and Essential Energy. 

The Berejiklian Government is a major shareholder of Ausgrid and they should stop the job cuts and engage in proper consultation with unions. Ausgrid is already chronically understaffed. During storms earlier this year, it infamously resorted to pleading for the army's support because Ausgrid lacked adequate resources where we saw homes and businesses across Sydney left without power for days on end. These workers are essential and there should be no more job losses.

Please read the debate here or take a look at the videos below of me leading the debate: 

Qantas Workers Motion

The Upper House recently voted to condemn Qantas for outsourcing the jobs of 2,400 workers and called on the airline to immediately reverse its decision. I successfully moved the Labor motion, despite being opposed by the Berejiklian Government. The motion criticised Qantas for outsourcing these jobs during a global pandemic, after taking over $800 million dollars of taxpayer's money, which was intended to keep staff employed. These jobs have been done by Qantas workers for over 100 years. It is disgraceful that Qantas is outsourcing a major portion of these jobs to Swissport, a foreign-owned company, that has set horrendous conditions for its workers. Swissport has reportedly made staff work while injured, has had a terrible safety record, has used broken and faulty equipment in their operations and has been exposed previously over their workers being forced to sleep on airport floors due to their gruelling split shift system.

I have met with many of the 2,400 Qantas workers who have lost their jobs and it was devastating to hear how they are anxious and deeply worried about how they will now support their families. I will continue to stand with the Transport Workers Union and hold Qantas to account for taking almost a billion dollars of taxpayer's money that was meant for saving jobs and outsourcing this work to a foreign company.

Please read the debate here  and here  or take a look at the videos below of me leading the debate: 

Bushfire Legislation Amendment Bill 2020

The Bushfire Legislation Amendment Bill 2020 introduced by the Government, did not do enough to respond to the devastating bushfire season that our State endured last summer. I spoke to the Labor amendments that were much needed. The Berejiklian Government had failed to consult with experts, including the Fire Services Joint Standing Committee, and the Unions. It is shocking to simply disregard the voices of our firefighters and not even attempt to discuss the legislation with them.

Trish Doyle, Labor’s Shadow Minister for Emergency Services did an amazing job in listening to our firefighters and drafting great amendments that vastly improved the legislation. Labor thinks it is essential that we listen to key experts and therefore moved amendments to ensure that the membership of the Bush Fire Coordinating Committee be expanded to also include Union members and a person to promote the integrity of cultural burning practices. Labor’s amendments also guaranteed ongoing oversight by Parliament in the form of progress reporting and a statutory review, the Minister will also have further accountability in the legislation.

Please read my speech here or see me speak on the issue below: 

Bayside Council

I commended Mayor Joe Awada and Bayside Council for their financial achievements and efforts. The forced mergers policy of the Government has placed many councils in severe financial positions and Bayside should be applauded for working very hard to achieve surplus results.

Please read my speech here or take a look at the video below: 

Asbestos Diseases Research Institute

I highlighted in Parliament the outstanding work of the Asbestos Diseases Research Institute and the crucial need for it to be supported. It is a not-for-profit organisation that works tirelessly to try to prevent and cure diseases through investing in laboratory research, clinical sciences, prevention and public health. The institute is a world leader in preclinical research and raises awareness to alert, educate and train people to avoid the risks of exposure in our communities, helping prevent further cases and suffering. The support services are also critical for sufferers and their families. 

Unfortunately, all of their crucial work will end if the institute is not supported with adequate funding as it does not have the finances to continue its lifesaving efforts. I urged the Berejiklian Government, along with James Hardie, to make certain that they are meeting their social responsibility to ensure that a world-leading institute can continue its vital research and provide support for sufferers and their families. 

Please read my speech here or watch below: 

Heathcote Road Bridge

I raised the dangers of the Heathcote Road Bridge again in Parliament. The local member Lee Evans failed to follow through on his election promise to deliver a duplication of the bridge and the Transport Minister Andrew Constance has still refused to fulfil this promise. There have been multiple fatalities on this bridge and the Liberals’ refusal to take action is disgraceful, I will continue to raise this issue and call for action.

Please read my speech here .

2021

The Upper House of Parliament will resume on 16 February 2021. This will be followed by Budget Estimates, which will commence on the 25th February. Budget Estimates is a highly important process for accountability and transparency in the State Government. Both ministers and senior public servants attend a series of hearings to answer questions regarding the spending, performance and efficiency of their portfolios and agencies. Budget Estimates will involve comprehensive questioning from Labor on the dealings, decision-making and instructions of Ministers and senior public servants and I will provide an update on this in the new year.

I wish you a Merry Christmas and a healthy and happy new year, I look forward to continuing to update you about Parliament in 2021.

PS. Please follow my Facebook page and Instagram @mark.buttigiegmlc to see my latest updates.