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

Thank you, Mr Acting Deputy President, and thank you, Senator Brandis. I appreciate your giving me the call; I have to be somewhere else. I want to take this opportunity to report to the Senate on a recent visit to the United States of America that I took to examine the challenges facing the North American road transport industry. As many of you in this chamber and in this building would know, I am a very passionate and proud supporter of our transport industry, having spent many years as an owner-driver hauling furniture throughout this great country.

In the USA the basic wage is just $7.50 per hour, and we know the parity between the Australian dollar and the American dollar is quite frightening. In California it is slightly better, I believe about $8.50 an hour. There is a marked distinction in the USA between union and non-union workers' wages and conditions. I had the absolute pleasure of attending the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Western Organizers Conference in Los Angeles. It might come as a shock to those opposite but I am a very passionate supporter of the Teamsters. I was honoured to meet some of the leading lights of the American International Brotherhood of Teamsters. I will just name a few. There was Mr Jimmy Hoffa, the general president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, a fantastic person. I wish that President Hoffa does come Down Under very soon.