Kristy McBain (Eden-Monaro, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today on behalf of workers in Eden-Monaro, like Warren Sunderland from Bermagui, who are facing the very real prospect of losing their jobs, thanks to border closures. Warren is a merchant seaman who has been in the Bass Strait for the past four weeks working on a drill platform. It is a critical service. Warren goes to work so that gas can be delivered to Victoria and New South Wales. Yet, upon his return to Sydney, despite having all the required paperwork, Warren was forced into two weeks of quarantine. That was the case for all four employees on the ship who came from New South Wales, but not the case for the other eight employees who live in other states around Australia. It means he will now spend two weeks away from his wife and five children, but, even worse, as a casual worker, he's worried he'll lose his job. Jobs like Warren's are critical to regional economies.

The Prime Minister needs to show some leadership through his so-called national cabinet. Critical workers like Warren are crying out for a commonsense approach. Their jobs depend on it.