Glenn Sterle (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to make a contribution to the matters of public interest discussion. I know that MPIs and second reading debates are far ranging, which is good and encouraging. I have to make some comment on Senator Cash’s contribution, some 15 minutes prior to Senator Hanson-Young’s. As a proud West Aussie I was absolutely rapt to know that something that is going to be put into Western Australia could improve Western Australia. By the same token I have to admit that I was absolutely bamboozled to hear a member of the opposition publicly acknowledging the global financial crisis when only two weeks ago in this chamber they voted against any stimulus package. There was a look of horror on their faces on Thursday night when Senator Xenophon came in the chamber and sat on their side. You could hear them groaning.

Then Senator Cash talked about the environment. This is from the party that have been environmental sceptics for the whole Howard era. No wonder I am confused. But, mind you, I am not as confused as they are because of the ghost of Peter Costello. But, anyway, we will get to that later.

I heard Senator Cash promoting Prime Minister Rudd’s stimulus package and saying—and I jotted down some notes—how wonderful that stimulus package will be because it will boost infrastructure investment in local communities, providing economic and social investment. This is the same mob who two weeks ago were going ghostly white when Senator Xenophon joined them on that side of the chamber to vote against our stimulus package. They also talk about how great it would be for farmers but they voted against our $900 aid to farmers that was in that same stimulus package.

Senator Cash began her speech by talking about the grossly shocking exhibition by BHP in Hopetoun in the bottom half of WA where 1,850 jobs were lost. I want to see a road built down there. If it improves tourism in the bottom end of WA that would be fantastic, but there will not be 1,850 people employed on that job. She promoted the fantastic effort of Premier Barnett and said what a wonderful job he has done. As a West Aussie I watched Premier Barnett when BHP announced they were closing the mine and 1,850 jobs would go. He was like a rabbit in the spotlight. He had absolutely no idea what to do. In fact, his minister—I think it was Norman Moore—was even accused of sitting on his thumbs and doing nothing. They did not even ring BHP to see how they could rescue the situation.

Senator Cash, promote Western Australia—please do—but be a little fairer on the reporting of exactly who does what. When all is said and done, you can put as many hundreds and thousands as you like on a manure sandwich but once you bite it it still has that horrible taste.