Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services) Share this | Hansard source

I am being entirely relevant, because, if you are talking about building industry in the Northern Territory—whether it is aquaculture, the cattle industry, the farming industry or meat processing—these are the issues that the country will have to face in the future. Senator Macdonald just does not get it. Senator Macdonald does not understand these issues. Senator Macdonald is a climate change sceptic and he just refuses to accept the reality of what climate change will do in the area of aquaculture and in the area of farming around this country. The CSIRO tells you these are the issues. The Bureau of Meteorology tells you these are the issues. The various scientists in the universities around the country tell you about these issues, but you, Senator Macdonald, just do not accept it. When I am saying that I think this report needs to be seen in the context of climate change in the Northern Territory, that is when Senator Macdonald interjects; that is when Senator Macdonald demonstrates his ignorance of the issues that are before this country on climate change.

Another area that will be a challenge for any aquaculture industry, and industry in general, in the Northern Territory is the exploitation of 457 visa workers, and if the aquaculture industry is not to end up like some of the industries around the country where 457 visa workers are being exploited then that is an issue that we will need to deal with when we are building an aquaculture industry. Looking after people who come here to be on holiday and looking after people who come here to get a job are remote from the thinking of the coalition. They are quite happy for exploitation of 457 visa workers. They do not deal with it in a concrete way.

So I am just raising the prospect that if we are to have an aquaculture industry in the Northern Territory then decent wages, decent conditions and protections for the workers and dealing with climate change are some of the issues that will need to be dealt with. It is fine writing a nice report with all of the positives, but you have to understand that there are issues that go to climate change and the exploitation of working people.

This is a report that I welcome. I welcome the joint report, but I simply want to bring a bit of reality. The pests and diseases that the CSIRO and the Bureau of Meteorology say are going to arise from climate change, both for animals and humans, are issues that we will need to deal with.

Senator O'Sullivan interjecting—

Again, we have got the doormats of the National Party in here. Senator O'Sullivan loves interjecting when I am on my feet. It does not make much sense when he interjects with me. It does not make much sense at all when I hear his contributions here.