Parliamentary Political Report.
I hope you are staying safe during this very difficult time. The October and November sittings of Parliament rounded last year’s Parliament sitting period. We sat for over 372 hours in 2021, where we asked the Government 188 questions then debated those answers to highlight the Government’s failings across a range of areas. We also dealt with 669 Notices of Motion and 54 bills were passed. A record 164 orders for papers were obtained in Parliament, which has led to Labor highlighting the shortcomings of the Liberal and National Government.
Bills
Banning Developers from Serving on Councils- Local Government Amendment (Disqualification from Civic Office) Bill 2020
I have been a staunch advocate of banning developers and real estate agents from serving on our local councils. I was extremely happy to support a Labor Bill that passed the Upper House that would help achieve this and protect the integrity of the decisions made by elected councils. The Liberals and Nationals voted against the Bill, which demonstrates that they are more interested in lining the pockets of developers than protecting the best interests of the general public. Councillors are elected to serve their communities not their own self-interest. I will continue to pressure the Liberals and Nationals in the Lower House to support the bill.
Please see the media coverage on my work advocating on this issue:
In the Sydney Morning herald here
On ABC Newcastle below:
And again in the Sydney Morning Herald here
Articles were also published in metropolitan and regional newspapers across NSW including: Camden-Narellan Advertiser, Central Western Daily, Campbelltown-Macarthur Advertiser, Bunbury Mail, Port News, Cowra Guardian, Blayney Chronicle, Armidale Express, Braidwood Times, Grenfell Record, Goulburn Post, Wellington Times, Young Witness, Tenterfield Star, Gloucester Advocate, Southern Cross, Port Stephens Examiner, Fairfield City Champion, Blue Mountains Gazette, The Advocate, Cessnock Advertiser, Mudgee Guardian, Wollondilly Advertiser, Yass Tribune, Macleay Argus, The Rural, Hawkesbury Gazette, Dungog Chronicle, Great Lakes Advocate, Bega District News, Border Mail, Crookwell Gazette, Eastern Riverina Chronicle, Forbes Advocate, Illawarra Mercury and Maitland Mercury. You can see one of the articles here
Please watch the video of my speech here and read my speech here
Privatisation- Fiscal Responsibility Amendment (Privatisation Restrictions) Bill 2021
Labor, led by Daniel Mookhey, introduced and passed a Bill in the Upper House to safeguard state owned assets from further privatisation by Dominic Perrottet. The Bill would force the Government to gain the support of both houses of Parliament to carry out further privatisation and a review of the sale would need to be conducted by a Parliamentary Committee to make recommendations, including whether the sale should proceed or not.
You can see me speaking on the Bill below where I argued that the Liberal and National Government’s relentless need to privatise everything has resulted in monopolies and higher costs for people across New South Wales, and it must come to an end:
You can read my speech here
Industrial Manslaughter- Work Health and Safety Amendment (Industrial Manslaughter) Bill 2021
Adam Searle ensured his landmark Labor Industrial Manslaughter Bill, passed the Upper House, it will now proceed to the Lower House for a vote. The Bill allows for companies and their management to be prosecuted for workplace deaths. I told Parliament about my experience as an apprentice where my life was put at risk and why this is so close to my heart. I know that this is crucial legislation that will protect workers.
Please see my speech below or read my speech here
You can also help by signing this petition here
Funding needed to keep our elections safe
The Liberal and National Government has put our elections at risk by refusing to provide adequate funds for cybersecurity. Both in Parliament and at Budget Estimates I argued the importance of prioritising the security of our elections and that the Perrottet Government needs to start taking this seriously.
Please see my advocacy in the Sydney Morning Herald here
You can check out my interview below with Wendy Harmer and Robbie Buck on ABC Radio:
The Liberals have been hiding important information when it comes to their horrific cuts to the south east bus services. The Government announced they are cutting 25 bus services in our city’s south-east. 41 bus stops will also be removed, that’s a loss of more than 1,600 bus services every day and more than 10,000 services each week. This will gravely impact people with disabilities, the elderly, businesses, people travelling to medical appointments and the hospital, working commuters and students. I was able to win a debate in Parliament to ensure that the Liberal and National Government is now obligated to provide information they were trying to keep secret about the bus services. Marjorie O’Neill, the Member for Coogee, was instrumental in this win and we will keep fighting the cuts to our public transport services.
Please watch my speeches here and here or read my speech here
TAHE
I was also successful in leading Labor in debate and gaining access to papers regarding the Transport Asset Holding Entity. TAHE owns over 40 billion dollars of our state’s rail assets and the entity takes the cost of maintenance of the assets off the budget and then it goes onto its own balance. However it’s all bogus, as it doesn’t pay any taxes or impose fees to use the assets and has no real financial benefit, it was set up to artificially inflate the state budget by billions of dollars. The current auditor-general is scrutinising TAHE and has delayed signing off the Government’s accounts because of this bogus scheme from the Perrottet Government. These papers will help Labor hold the Government to account for their actions.
Please watch my speech here or read my speeches here and here
New Intercity Fleet
For an order for papers that I had previously obtained in Parliament regarding the New Intercity Fleet, the Government returned a large amount of the information blacked out, claiming privilege. I was able to successfully overturn this through making an in-depth submission to an independent arbiter and now the truth about the Government’s overpriced and defective South Korean trains is available for Labor to highlight to the public.
Manufacture our Transport here in NSW
Labor is continuing to call out the Liberals and Nationals for their decision to send taxpayer’s hard earned money overseas with their purchases of overpriced trains, ferries and light rail that are defective. I joined my colleagues in Parliament in calling on the Government to build our transport right here and grow our own manufacturing industry.
You can check out my speech below or read it here
Fire stations in our communities
In Parliament, I called out the Government for looking to shut down as many as thirty fire stations due to staff shortages. Our Shadow Minister for Emergency Services, Jihad Dib and I met with locals and the Fire Brigade Employees Union at both Bundeena and Camden fire stations who are extremely worried that the proposed closures of Camden, Bundeena, Helensburgh, Scarborough and Picton stations will leave our communities exposed and could lead to tragic outcomes with delayed response times. Communities across our state deserve their own adequately resourced local fire stations and they should not have to wait for fire trucks from other areas to arrive.
You can see the media coverage of my visits in the St George and Sutherland Shire Leader and the Camden and Narellan Advertiser
You can watch my speech in Parliament here or read it here
We need a safer Fire Protection Industry
I brought to the attention of Parliament that currently in NSW, there is no license or qualification required to undertake the vital regular inspecting and testing of crucial fire protection systems, putting our residents at risk. Nationally, industry experts such as Theo Samartzopoulos & the Plumbing Trades Employees Union have warned that New South Wales is in a terrible position in relation to the inspecting and testing of systems. Individuals completing this work should have to undertake a qualification where they are able to accumulate a well-developed knowledge of the technicalities of the systems, in addition to acquiring the appropriate competencies and experience. States such as Queensland and Victoria recognised the acute risks posed to their residents and improved their regulations, I argued our Government should be doing the same.
You can watch my speech in Parliament below or read it here
Supporting our workers
StarTrack and FedEx workers
In Parliament, I called on StarTrack and FedEx who have been making record profits to provide fair pay and job security for workers. I highlighted how our vital transport workers have kept our communities running during the pandemic and that their hard work should be recognised by StarTrack and FedEx. Thanks to the amazing campaign by the Transport Workers’ Union, both have come to the table with fairer agreements for workers.
You can watch my speech here or read my speech here
Rail Workers
I also told Parliament of my support for the Rail Tram and Bus Union and our rail workers. There should be no privatisation of our transport services and they should receive a fair wage increase especially when the Government is handing out over $575,000 to the new CEO of a Transport entity. The safety issues on our trains also require addressing by the Government. I will continue to call on the Liberals and Nationals to do the right thing.
You can watch my speech here or read my speech here
Workers in our Supply Chain
I highlighted that workers throughout every step of the supply chain in multiple industries across our state have been critical to keeping our communities going throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. In Parliament, I called on Amazon in a motion to improve working conditions, safety standards and wages as workers are being poorly impacted throughout the supply chain.
I also congratulated the Australian Worker's Union led by its secretary, Daniel Walton in bringing about a monumental achievement for over 100,000 workers in our supply chains. The horticultural industry is notorious for wage theft, with some of the worst-paid workers in our country, being paid as low as $3.00 per hour. The AWU’s victory ensures that farm workers will be entitled to the minimum casual rate of pay of $25.41 per hour regardless of piece rates, making it a historic win for workers!
You can watch my speech here and motion here or read my speech here and motion here
Retail, warehouse and fast food workers
I called attention to our retail, warehouse and fast food workers for all their hard work on the frontlines of this pandemic. Liberal and National politicians did not turn up to work at Parliament when they were supposed to this year, although they too were deemed essential workers. Our heroic retail and warehouse workers have been turning up to challenging workplaces each and every day. They have been absolutely essential to our State getting through this crisis. I also highlighted the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association’s campaign to call for an end to the abusive and violent behaviour that these workers have been facing at work. Workers have been experiencing threatening behaviour, intimidation, stalking, swearing, yelling, hitting and spitting, which is absolutely disgraceful. There are zero excuses for abuse or for taking out frustration on workers and they need support from our Government and businesses to ensure they are protected.
You can watch my speech here or read my speech here
Keeping the Government accountable on Education promises
In the Camden electorate, residents of Gregory Hills have been waiting for their local school to be built for over a decade. I continued to put pressure on the Minister for Education in Parliament about the broken promises made to the community from the Government and the local Liberal Member.
You can watch the questioning of the Minister and the debate here and here
Our Labor team will take the fight to Perrottet and his new team of Ministers when Parliament resumes again on the 22nd of February 2022 and I will continue to keep you updated.
Please follow my Facebook page and Instagram @mark.buttigiegmlc to see my latest updates.