Matt Thistlethwaite (Kingsford Smith, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Financial Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have a question, Prime Minister: how do you think the 2½ thousand Qantas workers—many of whom live in your electorate and are having their jobs dismissed by Qantas, having them replaced by a foreign corporation on lower wages and conditions—feel about your government handing out tens of thousands of taxpayers' dollars to the operators of private jet companies while they lose their jobs? How do you think the 4½ thousand dnata workers who've been denied JobKeeper by your government feel about your government handing out tens of thousands of dollars to Clive Palmer, Crown casino and the Leppington Pastoral Company whilst they are put on the unemployment queues? I'll tell you how they feel. They are outraged and they are sick of your government's deceit and duplicity.

You and your ministers prattle around the country in your high-vis vests, pretending to support workers, and then you come in here and make decisions like that. You've been up in Queensland saying that you support coalminers and then your government actively intervenes in the WorkPac case against coalminers to deny them access to permanent employment. It's a disgrace, and the sooner the Australian public work you out, mate, the better.

I ask you again, on behalf of aviation workers: will you intervene to stop them being sacked and stop handing out tens of thousands of dollars—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Kingsford Smith will resume his seat. In accordance with standing order 43, the time for members' statements has concluded.