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

This disallowance motion on the Coronavirus Economic Response Package (Payments and Benefits) Amendment Rules (No. 2) 2020 has created a significant amount of torment for both Senator Roberts and me. I stated from the outset that the repercussions the coronavirus will have on Australia and the rest of the globe will be potentially felt for generations. One of those industries that felt the immediate impact of this virus was aviation—and its affiliate industries. The fate of dnata employees was first brought to my attention by FIVEaa announcer Leon Byner several weeks ago. I made a commitment to Leon that I would look into this. I thank Labor Senator Tony Sheldon, who has been a very strong advocate for the workers of dnata. He has given me a very raw insight into what these employees are going through.

This chamber will never quite know how much anger I felt when I heard that we lost another wholly owned Australian business called Q Catering to the United Arab Emirates. You see, many of these employees started their careers employed by Qantas until it was sold to Emirates, a UAE state owned government company. Emirates have posted 32 consecutive years of profit. In their 2019-20 annual report, they posted a revenue of US$28.3 billion. Unfortunately for these Australian workers—and let's be upfront about this—they might work for a foreign government company, but they are Australian workers.

The emergency legislation that was passed by Labor and the coalition government to safeguard jobs under the JobKeeper program prohibits Australian and foreign governments from accessing the JobKeeper program. I'll say it again: the JobKeeper program cannot be accessed by foreign governments and, equally, it cannot be accessed by Australian governments, which also includes local councils. This was passed by the Liberals, Labor and the Nationals. The disallowance motion that has been put forward today is somewhat of a false hope for the workers of dnata. To them: I sincerely apologise to you and your colleagues if you had hopes that this disallowance motion would give you access to the JobKeeper program.

One of the questions I asked both the government and Labor related to the return of domestic and international travel. As Australian states determine their relaxation of domestic travel, there is an expectation that flights will resume in some form of capacity over the coming months. As for international travel, that's not likely to restart more broadly until we either find a cure for the coronavirus or somehow everyone miraculously recovers.

That brings me to the decision process that Senator Roberts and I used for our determination. The vast majority of the nearly 6,000 dnata workers here in Australia will not have a job to return to once the JobKeeper payments end on 27 September. As I stated months ago, our aviation industry will barely be open for domestic, let alone international, travel. This is going to be a complete blow to many dnata employees, but I'm being completely upfront and honest with you.

I have confirmed with the government that many dnata employees will qualify for jobseeker, which, at the moment, still includes the coronavirus supplement of $550 per fortnight and gives recipients a total of $1,100 per fortnight. Depending on an individual's circumstances, parents may be eligible for other supplements like family tax benefit part A, of up to $186.20 per fortnight for a child up to 12, or family tax benefit part B, which can offer up to $158.34 each fortnight for children under five. Jobseekers can also make an application for Commonwealth rent assistance. I also want to point out that people on social security payments will also be eligible for two $750 economic support payments, the second of which will be paid following 13 July. It is also important that anyone caught in these horrible circumstances knows that their ability to access jobseeker will not be asset tested and that the partner threshold has been lifted to $79,788 per annum.

I've always tried to maintain a responsible position when it comes to spending taxpayers' money. There have been some tough choices made by the Morrison government, and I can assure you: some of those I agree with and others I don't. But we've all had to make tough choices these past few months, and I sense that there are going to be many more over the next 12 months as well.

All employees who have lost their jobs or were ineligible for the JobKeeper program have my absolute sympathy at this moment in time. I am very conscious of the needs of these workers, and I'm also aware that my party's head office has employed one of these workers who lost their job at the Brisbane airport. Taryn has been with my head office now for a fortnight, and I would encourage any business that is looking for employees right now to consider closely the former employees of dnata and our airport staff.

Let me say this to all Australians: I will do everything in my power to ensure that we rebuild jobs in this country and that we stop selling our profitable businesses to foreign governments and overseas companies. And I will continue to fight with the same vigour to ensure that Australian jobs go to Australian workers moving forward. I want to acknowledge Senator Sheldon for his determined representation of the aviation industry, but, on this occasion, One Nation will not support the disallowance motion.