Bob Katter (Kennedy, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

Well, Mr Deputy Speaker, the issue before the House is industry—the construction of industry. And we are not, as Australians, getting a look-in at the tendering process. This is not going to solve that problem. But it will help to at least give us the opportunity to have a go, because we are not getting the opportunity to have a go. This is something, clearly, that the honourable member who spoke previously does not understand, and I hope that someone in her party will explain it to her later on because it requires explanation.

If you are creating a new mine in this country—and the only construction that is taking place in this country is mining—the parts, the components, everything, are being flown in or shipped in from overseas, and then they are being put together by construction crews from overseas. Our local contractors do not get a look-in anywhere along the line. Under the honourable member's government and the previous ALP government, all the great mining companies in Australia were flogged off to foreigners. So now they do deals with their foreign mates at Bechtel and the big international building corporations, and the locals do not get a look-in at any stage whatsoever. It is extraordinary to me that no-one on the right-hand side of the House would be taking the position that Australians should be able to get a look-in at the tendering process, and that is all that this bill is about. I wish it went further, but it really does not do much substantially at all. (Time expired)

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