Malcolm Roberts (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Hansard source

Senator Cash, I do not mean to smear you, but I would prefer to use some facts. You are aware of a 4½-hour briefing that your staff gave to us going through the amendment, line item by line item. Not once though did I hear any of your staff mention the fact that the EA in Victoria is a vehicle for managing the CFA. The core issue, as I see it—and I would like your comments on this in a minute—is that the state government have abandoned statutory responsibility and, in the words of the minister in Victoria, they are using the new EA as a vehicle for implementing some of the royal commission's findings and recommendations. That was startling, but it was backed up on 28 September by Peter Marshall, the Secretary of the UFU, in response to my questions. He reiterated that he sees the failure of the CFA to do its job as necessitating and justifying a 400-page EA that would take over the management of the CFA.

First of all, I would like to know if you are aware of those two statements and claims justifying a 400-page EA taking over the management because the CFA has not been able to fulfil its responsibilities. Secondly, as a manager and executive in a heavy industry—underground coalmining—I am aware that safety depends very much on a very clear chain of command, with well-defined accountability. By bringing the UFU into the management of that chain of command, surely this dilutes the responsibilities and muddies the accountability.

Senator Cameron said a little while before dinner that this is governed by state legislation. It certainly is, but the Minister for Industrial Relations in Victoria and the Secretary of the UFU have both admitted that it is not being managed and that they want the UFU to step in. Are you aware of the significance of this on safety? And are you aware that the state government and Peter Marshall have admitted that they are stepping in because the CFA has not been able to do its job?