Cory Bernardi (SA, Australian Conservatives) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes claims, published in Newsweek on 26 November 2017, that Tesla, a US-listed company with Mr Elon Musk as its CEO, has sacked 700 workers and stands accused of "trying to force them to avoid criticizing the company and its famous CEO", and that "the mass firings targeted pro-union, LGBT and black employees";

(b) further notes claims, published in Fortune magazine on 1 November 2017, noting that "United Auto Workers filed a complaint against Tesla on 25 October 2017, claiming the company fired workers who were trying to unionize";

(c) observes that the South Australian Premier (Mr Weatherill) has indicated he plans to travel to Jamestown, South Australia, this week to celebrate switching on Mr Musk's Tesla-provided battery before 1 December 2017; and

(d) calls upon the Commonwealth and all state and territory governments to cease any involvement with Mr Musk and his companies until the claims of targeting union members, LGBT and African-American employees are resolved.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President, Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This motion concerns a commercial decision by a private company in the United States. Arrangements between the South Australian government and that company are a matter for them. This motion makes a number of assertions which, in the absence of all the facts, would be inappropriate for the government to comment on.

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President, Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Labor opposes this motion, which, at its heart, is just a sad stunt. We do not accept that Senator Bernardi has any genuine concern for workers or for their rights to unionise. That position is supported by the evidence of his many votes in this place for legislation designed to attack workers' rights. If Senator Bernardi had any genuine concern for workers he would have voted against the Turnbull government's politicised, scandal-ridden, anti-worker, anti-union legislation. He would have voted against establishing the Australian Building and Construction Commission. He would have voted against the Registered Organisations Commission. And he would commit now to voting against the Liberals' other anti-worker, anti-union bills which will come before the Senate, instead of moving motions that mirror the Liberal-Nationals anti-renewables ideology. We oppose this motion.

Cory Bernardi (SA, Australian Conservatives) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a brief statement.

Scott Ryan (President, Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Cory Bernardi (SA, Australian Conservatives) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Chisholm for his contribution, which was, obviously, written for him. The motion is merely as it is—that it's inappropriate for government to do deals with companies that are accused of targeting workers based on their union affiliation, their sexuality or the colour of their skin. That is the allegation here. It's quite clear. If you want to support people being discriminated against because of their sexuality, the colour of their skin and their unions, you can vote against this. But I think this is a very important motion for you to support.

Question negatived.