James Paterson (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Employment, Senator Cash. Can the minister update the Senate on the Victorian government's latest attack on Country Fire Authority volunteers?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Unfortunately, I can—in particular, given the irony of the fact that this week is actually National Volunteer Week.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You can see that those on the other side clearly do not want to hear about what—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Just a moment, Minister.

Senator Cameron interjecting—

Order on my left! Senator Cameron, can you at least draw breath at some point! Minister, you have the call.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am disappointed that I have to update the Senate in relation to the attack by the Daniel Andrews government on the tens of thousands of fantastic men and women in Victoria who put their lives on the line every other day of the week to keep Victorians safe. Instead of working towards a new enterprise agreement that recognises the important role of the volunteer firefighters, do you know what the Daniel Andrews government now wants to do?

It wants to split the CFA. Why? Because it wants to satisfy the disgusting demands of Peter Marshall and the United Firefighters Union. What did the Daniel Andrews government also do? It actually brought in Simon Crean—those on the other side would know this—to try and negotiate a settlement. One might say, 'Good on them for trying.' But guess what? Simon Crean, himself, was so dismayed and so disgusted at what the Daniel Andrews government was doing that he was unable to do it. Then have a look at Victorian minister James Merlino, who is misleading—Senator McKenzie knows this well—those in Victoria in relation to why they are not finalising the enterprise agreement. Ironically, this week is volunteer recognition week. I can tell you, there is nothing that the Daniel Andrews government is doing to recognise in any way the fantastic work that the tens of thousands of men, women and, in some cases, children do to stand up and protect Victorians.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Paterson, a supplementary question?

Opposition senators interjecting—

James Paterson (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is disappointing that those opposite do not want to hear what is happening to our volunteers in Victoria, but we do, so I have a supplementary question. Can the minister outline what measures the Turnbull government has taken to protect volunteer organisations like the CFA?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, I can. Senators will be aware that the very first act of the Turnbull government after being re-elected to govern was to move decisively to protect the tens of thousands of men and women in Victoria, the fantastic members of the CFA. I again extend my thanks to those on the crossbench who joined us in standing up for those fantastic people. What did we do? It was very simple. All we did was ensure that enterprise agreements could not contain objectionable emergency management terms. All that does is prevent emergency services bodies from being able to support their volunteer operations. On this side of the chamber, we will never shy away from standing up for the good men and women of Australia, the people who really do make this country. We are proud to do what we did to ensure that the CFA in Victoria can continue.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Paterson, a final supplementary question?

James Paterson (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is the minister aware of any further threats to volunteer organisations arising out of enterprise negotiations?

Senator Kim Carr interjecting—

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Unfortunately, yes, I am. When you listen to the howls from those opposite, you can see that, despite everything that has caught on, despite all of the fantastic evidence that we have seen in relation to what the tens of thousands of men and women in Victoria do to protect Victorians and their emergency service bodies, yet again, they stand here and mock them. Look at the Leader of the Opposition, who, during the last election campaign, could not go anywhere near his home state because he knew—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Pause the clock. A point of order, Senator Wong?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That is an inappropriate imputation. We were not mocking the volunteers concerned; we were mocking this minister, who has gone off the budget because she is too ashamed to defend it.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Wong; there is no point of order.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I said, isn't it disappointing that even in a week that is set aside specifically to celebrate our volunteers, to celebrate the fantastic work that they do, the Daniel Andrews government in Victoria, alongside the Labor members and senators in this place, refuses to stand up for the honourable men and women in the CFA in Victoria? Well, we on this side of the chamber will back them every step of the way.