Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Hansard source

It seems an absolute absurdity that the Labor Party in Victoria are starving these forestry workers of their livelihoods. They are not getting access to timber. Apparently, there is a greater fascination in Leadbeater's possum than there is in the working men and women of Victoria, especially those associated with Heyfield. Might I remind the House there are about 21,000 jobs associated with the timber industry—21,000 well-paying jobs? It is an absolute travesty that we have a time in our nation where we are going forward, and the Labor Party are about to stand by and watch 750 working men and women at Hazelwood Power Station lose their jobs as they drive that state into destitution. The calamity that was South Australia is going to become the calamity which is Victoria. It is time that the Australian Labor Party actually start standing up for workers. It is time that the member for Calwell, who is looking down at her books, starts looking after the CFMEU—construction and forestry workers.

Opposition members interjecting—

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