Christopher Back (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

The important thing is—as I am sure Senator Siewert will be delighted about, and she already knows the figures—that that net of five million can yield a saving of 150 million tonnes per annum.

Because of the brevity of time, I will also make quick mention of the ground-breaking commencement of the Gorgon project today. But, regrettably, we also have another ground-breaking event starting today in the Pilbara at Karratha; that is the first strike for many years in the Pilbara by some 1,500 workers who are striking for 48 hours. Of course, it is a dispute between the CFMEU—and we have our good friend, Joe MacDonald, back up there organising the meeting—the AMWU and the Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union, taking people out for 48 hours.

All of us travel regularly, so it is important to know why they are going on strike. It is because in the time when they fly home from their place of employment their accommodation will have been used by the time they return. In other words, the analogy would be us coming to Canberra, booking into a hotel and saying to the owner of that hotel, ‘Do not use my room whilst I am away back in my electorate or my state.’ That is the reason that there is a 48-hour strike—the first one for many years.