Parliamentary Report Spring Session.
I wanted to update you on my Parliamentary activities for the second half of 2022. It was a very busy period where the Labor Upper House team held the Government to account on their complete mismanagement of our state.
MAKING THE CASE FOR A NSW LABOR GOVERNMENT
I highlighted in Parliament that the Liberal and National Government’s record is nothing short of atrocious, with too many years of chronic mismanagement and scandals; from iCare to TAHE and selling off over 93.6 billion dollars of our essential assets.
I outlined that there will be a clear choice for NSW residents at the March 2023 election. There will be the choice of a tired, old, scandal ridden and incompetent Liberal and National Government who have had 12 years in power, which has led to NSW being the highest taxing state and ranked as the worse performing state in Australia. Then there will be a choice of a Labor Government who will introduce integrity measures, prioritise local manufacturing and local jobs over procuring shonky transport from overseas. You can watch below or read here
In another Parliamentary speech, I reiterated that the Liberals and Nationals have put our state in over 182 billion dollars of gross debt and even with their colossal debt, they have managed to neglect our education and health systems. I outlined the systematic failures of the Government in managing them. I argued that only a Labor Minns Government will address the chronic understaffing and underinvestment in our health system from the Liberals and Nationals, which has had a catastrophic impact on the ability of our residents to access treatment and care. Labor will prioritise the structural repair of our health system.
I highlighted that under the Liberals and Nationals, our teachers are burnt out and have been leaving in droves; and outcomes for our students are at all-time lows. I emphasised that Labor has a comprehensive plan to address the teacher shortage crisis by bringing back permanency to the profession and decreasing the administrative load on our teachers. You can watch here or read here
MANUFACTURING
After Liberal Members defended sending jobs overseas for dodgy, delayed and unsafe transport in Parliament, I detailed the failures and cost blowouts of their projects. The top six overseas-built pieces of transport infrastructure have had budget blowouts of between 40% and 50%.
I highlighted that Labor is committed to building our transport here because we want to create local jobs and we will always back our workers. I argued we want to build quality and safe infrastructure here that will not end up costing taxpayer’s more in the long run. You can watch below or read here
You can also watch here or read here my contribution to a debate about manufacturing where I emphasised that the Government is obsessed with sending jobs overseas.
STANDING UP FOR OUR RAIL WORKERS AND FOR COMMUTER SAFETY!
The Liberals and Nationals continued to blame rail workers for the New Intercity Fleet not being on tracks, when it was the Government’s decision to purchase defective trains; sending jobs and taxpayer’s money overseas. The trains were delayed and defective, did not fit our tracks and tunnels and were over one billion dollars above budget. Our rail workers rightfully continued to refuse to operate the South Korean New Intercity Fleet until the major safety issues were sufficiently addressed. I reiterated that the safety of every rail worker and commuter must be the priority when these trains are put on our network and that the Government should have fixed the safety issues immediately. I argued that it was completely disgraceful for the Government to call our rail workers thugs and for elongating the dispute to deflect attention away from their own scandals, including the Barilaro fiasco. You can watch me call out the Government below or read here
The Government also brought forth a motion in Parliament that was designed to disrespect Alex Claassens, the hardworking Secretary of the RTBU and cause further issues with the rail dispute. I was able to lead for Labor in successfully amending the motion and therefore the motion resulted in calling on the Government to act responsibly and work with the Union to resolve the dispute by sensible negotiation. You can watch here or read here
Further to the above, throughout the sitting periods, I continually stood up for rail workers and highlighted that they were protecting our residents by fighting for these safety issues to be fixed and they had been alerting the Government to these issues for years. I argued that the Liberals and Nationals should have stopped the political point-scoring and playing games with the safety of our commuters.
You can watch and read these further speeches below:
Thanks to the hard work of the RTBU, in late November the Government finally agreed to fix the safety issues.
ORDERS FOR PAPERS
Government Mismanagement
The Government has continued to leave South-west Sydney and Western Sydney behind when it comes to delivering for the needs of residents. We have not had transparency around the Plan for the Western Sydney Aerotropolis, which will include the new airport and it will dramatically change Western Sydney. I was able to make certain that Labor got access to essential information about the Aerotropolis.
I ensured that the damming information revealed in the documents was reported in the Daily Telegraph. The return demonstrated that bureaucrats have raised concerns about a multi-billion dollar funding gap, which would cripple the construction of new transport and infrastructure that would be required. You can see the Daily Telegraph article here and you can read my speeches here and here or watch them here and here
Dodgy overseas manufacturing
The Liberals and Nationals have been hiding important information when it comes to the almost 3 billion dollar New Regional Fleet. It was revealed that there was a design dispute between the Government and the Spanish manufacturer and that the fleet would be delayed by 1,205 days. I was successful in leading Labor in winning a debate and gaining access to essential information. I argued it was disgraceful that the Government used the same Spanish company that built the inner west light rail that was riddled with unsafe cracks that even had to be pulled from service because of safety issues. The information will help us demonstrate that the Liberals and Nationals have failed when it comes to transport procurement and it will also provide important information for our rail workers. You can watch here or read the debate here
Transparency for our Firefighters and RFS workers
Since the Liberal and National Government introduced the wage cap, the ability to access information around staffing levels and the workforce structure has been problematic at the Rural Fire Service. I was able to ensure Labor gained access to documents that are crucial to ensuring there is transparency around chronic staff shortages, which is highly important for the safety of the public and for our amazing RFS workers. You can see the order here. I was also successful in winning a debate for Labor relating to hundreds of Fire and Rescue NSW fire stations that remain not fit-for-purpose, which places our firefighters and residents at risk. You can watch here or read the debate here
Tafe cuts
The Government's attack on Tafe and obsession with privatisation has continued and has had a devastating impact on students and staff of the Richmond Tafe equine courses, the Hawkesbury community and businesses and the entire equine industry at large. I was able to lead Labor in ensuring we obtained access to documentation about the cuts to courses. You can watch here or read here
PRIVATISATION
I continued to call out the Liberals and Nationals for privatising our State’s assets, which has resulted in our residents paying more and being left with dreadful services. I reiterated that a NSW Labor Government will ban privatisation. You can watch me speak below or read here
I argued that the NSW Government sold off good public electricity assets that were producing low-cost and reliable electricity for consumers and then the Government squandered taxpayer’s money from the sales on dodgy and overpriced transport that was produced overseas to the detriment of our local manufacturing sector. I also reiterated that the Government may sell off the remainder of our electricity assets if re-elected in March 2023.
You can see me in a debate about electricity privatisation here or read here
I supported our Shadow Minister Daniel Mookhey in calling on the Government to produce essential information in Parliament about the potential privatisation of further state assets and the importance of engaging in transparency with the public. You can watch here or read here
After an enormous backflip, the Perrottet Government announced that they would support Greg Piper’s Bill to rescue the anticompetitive and illegal privatisation of the Port of Newcastle. I argued it was proof that their privatisation model does not work and in the end it costs the taxpayers of our state millions, potentially billions of dollars. I also highlighted the other litany of privatisation failures in our state. You can read my speech on the Bill here or watch here, and you can watch me speak during a take note debate here or read here
FOREVER TAX
I condemned the Government’s introduction of a forever land tax as it will not lead to lower property prices and will only add pressure to household budgets. At a cost of 1.6 billion dollars over ten years, I highlighted it is a waste of taxpayer’s money and it will not do anything to address the housing crisis in NSW. You can watch here or read here
MEDICAL GAS AND MECHANICAL SERVICES LAWS
In 2016 there were heartbreaking tragedies that took place at Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital, two newborn babies were administered nitrous oxide instead of oxygen. Tragically, John Ghanem died as a result of this and Amelia Khan has been left with irreversible brain damage, life-long quadriplegic cerebral palsy and intellectual disabilities. At the time, anyone in NSW was permitted to legally perform medical gas work, which is highly complex and dangerous. In 2020, I was able to ensure legislation passed the Parliament that guaranteed that individuals that undertake medical gas and mechanical services work are required to be qualified and licensed to prevent a repeat of the tragic event.
There had been an extended transitional period built into the legislation. However, feedback was received from the relevant Government Department and the Plumbing Trades Employees Union that further time was needed and adjustments to ensure there was a smooth transition. I was able to draft Opposition amendments that were supported by the Government and workers that make certain that highly trained and experienced workers will be able to undertake Mechanical services and Medical gas work. You can watch here or read here
STANDING UP FOR WORKERS
Council workers
I called on the Sutherland Shire Council to urgently stop sending money out of the local Shire economy and urged them to grow the local workforce by ensuring council workers perform council work. I highlighted that the Council has been misusing and wasting ratepayer’s money by contracting out at least 10 million dollars’ worth of work each year, without proper transparency. I emphasised that the council has been misrepresenting their actions by saying they have been contracting the work out to local businesses when in fact it has been to a large quantity of contractors nowhere near the Sutherland Shire. I’ll continue to join with the United Services Union in fighting and calling out council outsourcing! You can read my speech here or watch here
Aviation workers
I called out Alan Joyce and Qantas management for collecting millions of dollars in pay whilst treating our workers terribly. I highlighted that the majority of the chaos within the aviation industry is the result of Qantas illegally sacking workers, chronic understaffing, wage freezes, termination threats, attempts to strip workers of conditions and outsourcing. I spoke of the terrible experiences that current employees have been subjected to and also workers who were illegally fired. You can watch here or read here
I condemned Qantas management for actively driving down standards, wages and conditions in the industry by giving low-cost contracts to Dnata. I slammed Dnata for their safety incidents, understaffing rosters, trying to cut pay and conditions. I argued our aviation workers should not be chronically overworked and that Qantas and Dnata should be taking safety incidents seriously. You can watch here or read here
In Parliament, I also congratulated Theo Seremetidis, a brave Health and Safety Rep and TWU member who stood up in a court case against Qantas. Theo was sacked by Qantas while trying to courageously protect his colleagues by raising concerns about Covid risks when cleaning aircraft from China in early 2020. It is time that Qantas should be putting the health and safety of its workers and passengers first! You can watch here or read here
I will continue to stand with the Transport Workers Union in arguing that the corporate greed needs to come to an end in the aviation industry. Our workers deserve good conditions and secure jobs.
Injured Workers
In a Parliamentary debate, I condemned the Liberal Minister for Finance and Employee Relations Damien Tudehope for justifying giving more than 100 executives at iCare an average salary increase of $29,784 and handing iCare’s CEO an extra $240,000 annually, which makes him NSW’s highest paid public servant with more than one million dollars in salary. I argued how disgraceful this decision-making was when our health, education and transport workers have faced real wage cuts under this Government. iCare has also underpaid our injured workers. I reiterated that the Liberal and National Government hurt workers and wasted billions of taxpayer’s dollars with iCare and it is obscene that they are still handing out ridiculous pay rises. You can watch here or read here
PAYING TRIBUTE
I had the honour of delivering a speech paying tribute to a wonderful firefighter and FBEU champion Chris Windsor. Chris’s unwavering advocacy for our firefighters and his commitment to the Union movement will always be cherished. You can watch here or read here
CAMDEN SCHOOLS
I continued to put the Government under pressure in Question time and Parliamentary debates about failing to deliver on schools in Sydney’s south-west. I called out the Minister for acting like she was unaware for the need for a high school for Gledswood Hills and Gregory Hills. You can watch me in a debate here or read here
I also joined Labor Leader Chris Minns and Deputy Leader Prue Car, Dr Michael Freelander MP, with our Labor Camden candidate Sally Quinnell to announce that an elected NSW Labor Government will build a new high school for Gledswood Hills and Gregory Hills.
END OF PARLIAMENTARY TERM
On Wednesday the 21st of December, we had an urgent sitting to make certain NSW passed legislation ensuring that the Albanese Government’s Energy Price Relief package will take effect. It is great legislation that ensures that Australian households and businesses are prioritised and protected from global energy price spikes and also supports manufacturing jobs.
After almost 4 years, the 57th Parliamentary sitting period has now come to a close. If you are interested to see how many bills were passed, questions that were asked, committee hearings that took place and much more in the Upper House this year and for the term you can read here.
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