I talked to Paul Murray about restoring manufacturing in Australia so we can defend ourselves against China and how the ABC’s bias has become palpable.
Senator Roberts said, “After two years of lobbying the government to look more closely at Coal LSL, I welcome today’s independent review of Coal LSL.”
“I acknowledge all the coal miners who have worked with me to help identify the errors in Coal LSL,” he said.
Coal LSL, an Australian Government corporation, had never appeared at Senate Estimates for scrutiny until Senator Roberts requested their attendance.
“Coal LSL have now appeared at five Estimates hearings and at each hearing my questions have shown embarrassing shortcomings in their governance.”
“One of the positive outcomes for workers from those Estimates’ questions is that twelve employers have been issued with notices for systematic or widespread under-reporting of casual hours.”
Senator Roberts has worked closely with the government in defining the terms of reference that will underpin the inquiry and pleased to see that ex-employees and ex-employers have been included.
Senator Roberts said, ‘I will be watching to ensure that the inquiry will address the structural and governance deficiencies and specifically scrutinise the possible conflicts of interests since directors of Coal LSL are from unions and employers.
“The current make up of the board means that no-one is representing the workers,” he added.
Despite huge potential Northern Australia continues to suffer.
Senator Roberts states that it is ironic that the issues that need addressing to facilitate development in the north are systematically being dismantled in the south due to atrocious federal and state governance.
“While witnesses from all corners of Northern Australia were unanimous in the issues facing living in the north: prohibitively high electricity and water costs; land tenure; housing; high cost of living; provision of high-quality health and education services, insurance and livability, it is the underlying root cause of poor governance that is the focus of Senator Roberts’ dissenting report.
“The White Paper for Developing Northern Australia published in 2015 calls for stronger governance by 2035, yet since 2015 poor governance continues to prevail and is choking our nation,” added Senator Roberts.
“People, their talents and resources are being suffocated under a stifling morass of bureaucracy inherent in the interference, overlap and duplication of government agencies.
“Australia’s aboriginal communities have for decades suffered under misguided patronising policies that have removed all control, self-determination and responsibility to help their communities flourish.
“While I do not support racially-based policies, I do support policies that reflect the needs of communities, whether they be black or white,” he said.
The Northern Australia Agenda committee travelled widely and listened to an exceptional array of witness statements and it is vital that the government listen to them.
“Instead of the hollow lip service of let’s grow northern Australia with a pot of money out of reach of those who need it, politicians need to get serious about addressing the underlying root cause of poor governance across our nation.
“Development in the north is painfully slow and at this rate is going nowhere fast,” he said.
Senator Roberts’ Dissenting Report: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/NorthernAustraliaAgenda/NorthernAustraliaAgenda/Report/section?id=committees%2freportsen%2f024637%2f76708
Senator Roberts has praised the vision and innovation of the regional mayors in the Flinders Basin north western Queensland in tackling issues that will keep their towns vibrant and attractive places to live.
Travelling west from Townsville to Mt Isa, Senator Roberts saw first-hand the agricultural potential of the black soil plains of the Flinders Region, and assessed the value of a Bradfield-type scheme with an aerial study of Hells Gate and the Tully, Herbert and Burdekin River catchment areas.
“After lengthy discussions with the mayors and CEOs of Mt Isa City and the Flinders (Hughenden), Richmond, McKinlay (Julia Creek) and Cloncurry councils, I was impressed with the many innovative water projects in each of these council areas,” Senator Roberts said.
“There is no doubt the Flinders black soil region offers rich opportunities for agricultural development, and importantly, this will complement the existing traditional industry of livestock production.
The area from Hughenden to Julia Creek and north are natural grasslands and have been grazed for 150 years, so there are no native title or vegetation management issues to address.”
With water and willing farmers cultivating around 60,000 hectares, these black soil plains could deliver more than $2 billion in agricultural output.
“Seeing the potential in this area I asked the mayors whether a Bradfield-type scheme would bring the water they needed,” Senator Roberts said.
“The answer was a resounding no, as every year they watch vast volumes of water in the Flinders, Leichhardt, Cloncurry Rivers flow pass their towns and out to the gulf.
“Harvesting and storing that surplus water will have no adverse environmental impacts, yet will invigorate these communities with new industry.
“It is literally a case of just add water, and that is exactly what the Queensland State Government needs to do by allocating the overdue promised water licences for agricultural development,” he said.
During his listening tour, Senator Roberts visited an experimental sorghum and cotton farm north of Julia Creek, which is being run by an experienced Murray Darling Basin farmer.
“It was an impressive sight to look closely at these crops, and with more development for local conditions Etta Plains is a showcase for the regions’ farming potential,” he said.
“The growth for our regional Queensland towns from horticulture and the auxiliary industries is very exciting and these councils deserve maximum support from the state and federal governments.”
Senator Malcolm Roberts is heading into north and western Queensland on Saturday 10 April, for a week long trip to see first-hand the tremendous horticultural potential of this area.
Genuine development of northern Queensland holds great promise for local communities bringing enormous wealth and opportunities for locals, making regional Queensland an even better place to live.
Senator Roberts will start with a charter flight from Townsville over to Mt Isa and then Normanton to look at the current irrigation projects, future dam sites and the connectivity between critical infrastructure.
Senator Roberts said, “We need to grow our way out of the devastating affects of border and business closures from COVID and north Queensland offers exceptional opportunities in horticulture and mining if we could just add water and affordable energy.
“To make north Queensland hum we need to ensure all the critical infrastructure works seamlessly together – the roads, railways, ports, affordable energy, well placed transmission lines and reliable water.”
After the charter flight Senator Roberts will visit dam sites and irrigation projects, broadacre cropping trials, and areas of future horticultural cultivation in the towns of Charters Towers, Hughenden, Richmond, Julia Creek, Cloncurry and Mt Isa.
Senator Roberts added, “Just add water and affordable energy through hydro and we can transform this area of north Queensland.
“There is the potential to add between $10-20 billion worth of new agriculture to Queensland’s economy through increase production of food and the value adding that becomes affordable through hydro.”
“In addition to horticulture there is huge potential for mining rare earths in this area, yet outrageous electricity prices make these small mines unviable.”
During this visit Senator Roberts will look at our stranded assets that are languishing and wasting taxpayers money.
“North Queensland is an exciting place full of unrealised potential and it is a priority that we have a well thought out vision for this area to ensure the momentum of development gathers pace. “Every Australian would be proud to see more manufacturing brought back to Australian shores and affordable and reliable water and energy are foundation pieces.”
The government is on notice that One Nation is expecting due consideration of its amendments to the Industrial Relations Bill next week in Parliament.
Senator Malcolm Roberts said, “I have doubts about the government’s commitment to comprehensive debate on the Industrial Relations legislation with the committee report due Friday and a vote expected next week.
“This is critical legislation and Senator Hanson and I will not be rushed into a vote before we have had time to consider the report’s recommendations.”
One Nation is proposing a range of amendments including casuals, greenfields, protections for workers in enterprise agreements, awards and compliance.
Senator Roberts stated, “I will not support the Bill in its current form and the government needs to be prepared to embrace One Nation’s amendments to rectify and remove the legislation’s flaws.
“Good industrial relations is about restoring the primary workplace relationship between the employee and employer, and stop the money flowing to the IR club that profits from complexities.
“If the Industrial Relations legislation isn’t doing that, and this current Bill doesn’t, then it isn’t good IR and I am committed to amending the Bill for the betterment of employers and employees.”
One Nation will be seeking a review of this legislation in twelve months to address any unintended consequences and a commitment from the government to undertake comprehensive industrial relations reform within two years.
One Nation’s commitment is to protect honest workers, protect small business and restore Australia’s productive capacity.
“I have written to more than 80 stakeholders including union bosses, peak union groups, employer and industry groups and welfare agencies and listened to their feedback on the legislation. “It’s time to sort this out and Senator Hanson and I are ready to work with the government and all parties,” added Senator Roberts.
The federal government showed its lack of commitment to addressing the misuse of federal funds today in voting down Senator Roberts’ motion to call for an inquiry into Queensland’s misuse of Commonwealth money.
Senator Roberts’ motion called for an inquiry into the gross misuse of Commonwealth disaster funds at a council level.
Senator Roberts said, “A Senate inquiry is essential to ensure an independent investigation, void of political interference, into these widely recognised corrupt practices.
“If we ever needed to validate the need for this inquiry, then the last week has done that given the number of council representatives who have lobbied in opposition to the inquiry going ahead.
“Their scrambling to shut this down confirms there is much to hide.”
Queensland councils received $5.339 billion in funding through the National Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA) from 2011-2019, of which 75% is Commonwealth funding.
Evidence shows that around 50% of the funded disaster money is siphoned into areas that currently avoid detection and is not used for the community’s benefit.
Senator Roberts stated, “Queensland communities need disaster funds to support infrastructure recovery.
“What they don’t need is their money going into the pockets of a few through massive profit taking, because of illegal and cost saving activities such as unlawful dredging of creeks for substandard road materials.”
The Federal government claims corruption is on their radar with their Commonwealth Integrity Commission, so it is disappointing to see them shy from an independent scrutiny of these funds.
Senator Roberts added, “Their actions today question the genuineness of their intentions to address federal corruption with their proposed Commonwealth Integrity Commission.” “The deliberate mis-use of public monies is never acceptable and be assured that this motion will be back on the agenda until these practices are independently investigated.”
In the Senate Chamber today the Nationals voted against a One Nation motion to construct a new coal fired power station in the Hunter and walked away from their election promise only one month after announcing it.
Senator Roberts’ motion in support for coal mining and the building of coal fired power stations used the words of Senator Canavan, however the Nationals, too weak to stand alone, joined the Liberals to vote the motion down.
Senator Roberts said, “The Nationals just walked away from the Hunter Valley coal industry and should be ashamed of themselves for their duplicity. This decision shows no support for the coal industry.”
The National’s Manufacturing Policy, released in January states on page 18 that “Australia needs to build modern coal fired power stations…the Government should also support a new coal fired power station in the Hunter Valley.
Senator Roberts said, “The Nationals, having spruiked about building coal fired powers stations on social media and in their glossy policy, have today shown Australia this was just talk.
“Voting for the Nationals is a wasted vote as they do not have the guts to stand by their policies nor stand up to the Liberals.” The coal mining industries of the Hunter Valley, the Bowen Basin and elsewhere in Australia can be clear that “only a vote for One Nation is a vote for the future of the coal mining industry and affordable and reliable power.”
https://www.facebook.com/malcolmrobertsonenation/videos/461543738205570
Senator Malcolm Roberts’ motion today in support of the coal mining industry is to help the voters of the Hunter decide who they can believe and who they can’t.
One Nation has consistently backed coal-fired power stations in our energy mix as it is one of the most affordable and reliable energy sources for Australia.
Senator Roberts said, “Thanks to One Nation’s relentless support for coal, the Nationals have clearly had a light bulb moment in their recent support for coal-fired power stations.”
Senator Canavan, leading the charge for the National’s renewed support, stated on Twitter in September 2020 that “the Hunter Valley has the best thermal coal in the world” and calls on the Morrison Government to build a coal fired power station in the Hunter.”
Senator Roberts added, “Voters need to look closely at the hypocrisy of the Nationals’ message; at a federal level there is a sudden spruiking for coal, but at a state level the Nationals continue to pursue closing Liddell coal power plant in 2023.
“Closing Liddell will result in blackouts as nearly 10% of the national power grid will go offline.”
There has been a conga line of National politicians turning up in the Hunter for damage control after One Nation candidate Stuart Bonds received more votes than the Nationals in the 2019 election. Senator Roberts said, “Voters in the Hunter need to know who the real supporters for the coal mining industry are and my motion today will divide the Chamber along those support lines.”
Senator Roberts rejects an extension to the QLD Chief Health Officer’s extraordinary powers in his submission to QLD Parliament’s Health and Environment Committee.
The sweeping powers, that allowed the state’s Chief Health Officer (CHO) to regulate people’s behaviour during the COVID pandemic, were initially introduced without consultation or debate.
Senator Roberts said, “A strong health response is the critical initial response to a pandemic, yet it is the Premier’s job to show political leadership and be accountable for the broader impact for Queensland.
“While lockdowns can be a solid initial strategy, the continued knee-jerk use of them after 11 months is an admission of failure. The ongoing damage to the economy will undermine people’s future physical and mental health.
“The Premier has been hiding in the shadows of the CHO’s health dictates since March and the economy, small businesses and Queenslanders have been left to languish.”
The role of the Chief Health Officer, an unelected bureaucrat, is to provide health advice for the Premier’s consideration as our elected representative.
“Over the past months the Premier has consistently abandoned the running of the state and instead allowed the CHO, who has responsibility for our physical health not our economic health, to be our defacto Premier.
“Only an elected government can be held accountable over the curbing of our rights and liberties, which is now beyond what is necessary,” stated Senator Roberts.
The ongoing extension of the delegated powers to the CHO puts her in a difficult position and may breach fundamental legislative principles, since the CHO’s unilateral decisions are way beyond her remit and her professional expertise.
Senator Roberts added, “Queenslanders voted for the Premier to be the ultimate decision maker, yet she shows reckless indifference to the importance of managing our state’s physical, mental and economic health.
“Anastacia Palaszczuk has surrendered her responsibility as a Premier. “The Premier needs to get back to work and the CHO’s extraordinary powers should be stopped and the position be returned to its intended advisory capacity only.”
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Malcolm’s Fight
Casual Coal Wage TheftFebruary 21, 2024 - 2:09 pmOver $30,000 a year being stolen, and it’s been signed off by the union and the government. Find out about the largest wage theft from casuals in Australia.
My Other IssuesFebruary 16, 2021 - 12:08 pm
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