SUBJECTS: Importance of the resources sector; industrial relations; same job, same pay; labour hire; secure work; Sydney lockdown extended; Morrison Government failing Australians during a health pandemic; net zero by 2050; Royal Commission into veteran suicides; JobKeeper; Member for Dawson. 

SHANE HAMILTON, LABOR’S CANDIDATE FOR DAWSON: It's great to have the Leader of the Opposition, Anthony Albanese, in Mackay, supporting our mining industry, supporting our resources industry, and most importantly, supporting local, secure jobs. We're here today at a wonderful truck manufacturing facility that's really a powerhouse for the mining industry. They support our local trucks, excavators, dozers for the mining industry. And it's wonderful to be here today, talking to workers, talking to people who fix these bits of equipment and talking to them about secure, paid work and right job and right pay.

JIM CHALMERS, SHADOW TREASURER: G'day, everyone. It's great to be here with Shane Hamilton, our outstanding candidate for Dawson. We couldn't have picked more wisely – a local family man working in the mining industry. And we need to make him this part of regional Queensland's voice in Canberra. And that's why we're here with Anthony Albanese. Anthony has made regional Queensland like a second home. He's an honorary Queenslander in lots of ways. He's here all the time, and we appreciate that, Albo. That's because we know that if we want the national economy to recover strongly, then regional Queensland needs to be a bigger part of the story. We're not in Scott Morrison's playbook of dividing the city against the bush. We want the whole Australian economy, the whole Australian society, to succeed. And that means understanding what's happening in regional Queensland in places like Mackay, speaking to the workers and management here at Komatsu today, but in regional Queensland and in regional Australia right around Australia, making sure that as the economy recovers from this pandemic, and last year's recession, that people actually get a slice of the action. And we measure that in terms of good, secure, well-paid jobs. This Government's been in office for eight long years now. Soon, they'll be asking for 12 years. And in that period, we've had stagnant wages and job insecurity and underemployment. We've seen casualisation. We're seeing people getting paid different rates for the same work. That has to stop. We need to see Mackay and the surrounding areas be a bigger part of a big national success story when it comes to the economy. 

Another important part of that is making sure that people aren't left behind. And we think about the people of Sydney right now, but people right around Australia, impacted by Scott Morrison's lockdowns. These lockdowns wouldn't be necessary if Scott Morrison had done his job on vaccines and purpose-built quarantine. There are large swathes of the Australian population locked down right now because of Scott Morrison's incompetence and his failure to do those two important jobs. Now, the New South Wales Liberal Government is asking the Federal Government, Liberal Government, Scott Morrison and Josh Frydenberg, for civil assistance here to support workers and small businesses to get through a difficult period caused by Scott Morrison failures. Now, this Government is always so quick to rule out support for people who are doing it tough. If only they were as quick to roll out the vaccine as they have been to rule out these requests for support for workers and small businesses doing it tough. We have said all along that whether it's JobKeeper or other forms of support, they need to be tailored to what's actually going on in the economy. And what's going on in the economy right now is big parts of Australia are locked down with potentially devastating consequences for workers and small businesses. Scott Morrison caused this problem. He should be part of the solution as well. He should come to the table and support Australians doing it tough as a consequence of the Prime Minister's failures. We need to see them have that conversation. They needn't be so quick to rule out support for fellow Australians who are doing it tough.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, LEADER OF THE AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY: Thanks very much, Jim. And it's great to be here at Komatsu, talking to the workforce here at this great company. A company which does have the principle of same job, same pay being implemented, which is at the heart of our industrial relations agenda. Making sure that working people are looked after. Making sure we have an economy that works for people, not the other way around. And that's one of the big divides in Australian politics. But at the moment, what we have as well, of course, is a Prime Minister who doesn't have to travel overseas to be absent. Because Australians at this difficult time haven't seen their Prime Minister, or heard from their Prime Minister, for many days now. After a previous absence of a week, we've had another week where the Prime Minister has just not been on the field. This is a Prime Minister who disappears when times get tough. And it is the Prime Minister's role to play leadership, to provide that leadership for people during difficult times. And we see from this Prime Minister, from the time of bushfires at the beginning of 2020 down to the recent weeks, that he just goes missing when things get difficult. He had two jobs, of course, this year - the rollout of the vaccine and effective national quarantine. And he failed on both. And with the rollout of the vaccine failures, we are seeing the consequences of that. A consequence whereby large parts of New South Wales and parts of the country remain locked down. This is a Prime Minister that has been distracted because they are just obsessed by their internal issues. And the last time Parliament sat, instead of rolling out the vaccine, they concentrated on rolling the Deputy Prime Minister. And now as a result, we have the resources sector excluded from our National Cabinet. Now, the resources sector, of which Komatsu here is providing machinery to assist in that process, creating jobs, which is just one of the examples of the flow on of jobs that occurs from this sector. A sector that is our major export. A sector that is responsible, directly and indirectly, for employing a million Australians and providing $310 billion for our national economy. And yet, Scott Morrison thinks that it doesn't deserve to be in the Cabinet. Well, under a Labor Government, resources will be in the Cabinet. They will have a voice. And Shane Hamilton will be a strong voice for this local community and for the resources sector in a Labor Government. Because Shane knows how important this sector is. Shane knows about the importance of jobs, not just any jobs, but secure, well-paid jobs that can look after a family, that can pay a mortgage, that can put food on the table, and can provide a high quality of life. And that's what our agenda is about. Making sure that no one's left behind, and no one held back. And this morning, it's been a great privilege to meet the workers here. And in particular, those apprentices who are pursuing a career and pursuing their dream of a secure job.

JOURNALIST: There have been recent issues within National Party in recent weeks with Barnaby Joyce returning the leadership over the net zero emissions by 2050. As you stand here in Mackay, how do you balance the resource industry in regions like the Mackay and calls from separate factions of the Labor Party who want stronger environmental regulation?

ALBANESE: Well, we're proud supporters, unashamedly, of the resources sector. And we support net zero emissions by 2050. Guess what? The resources sector does as well, whether they be the peak organisations or whether they be individual companies from BHP, to Santos, to others in the resources sector, Rio Tinto, they all support net zero by 2050. Why? Because they require the certainty for investment. They understand the transitions that occur. But they know that the resources sector has a great future. A great future providing secure jobs. What they get from the National Party is just noise, fighting each other. And meanwhile, workers getting left behind. You won't hear anyone in the National Party in Canberra speak about same job, same pay, speak about labour hire and it's increasing use, speak about casualisation of the workforce. Indeed, the Morrison Government is going before the High Court, using $400,000 of taxpayers' money to help undermine wages and conditions of people in the mining sector. That's their agenda - never standing up for working people. Shane Hamilton will stand up for working people.

JOURNALIST: We have heard from miners in Central Queensland that more than two thirds of (inaudible). Does that shock you? What do you think needs to happen with that?

ALBANESE: Well, this is a trend that has occurred under this Government. And it's a trend that's been encouraged by this Government. When you've had cases whereby in the Skene case, for example, a miner who went to court, who had the same schedule, week after week for more than a year, he wasn't a casual employee. It was essentially a fix in order to undermine his wages and his conditions. That miner was successful. What we're seeing since then, as companies object to that, backed by the Federal Government, a Federal Government supporting casualisation, supporting labour hire companies, rather than permanent work, rather than secure work. And that's one of the big divides in Australian politics. And that's why it's important that Shane Hamilton be elected as the Member for Dawson. Because he'll stand up for secure work. He'll stand up against the increase in casualisation, which means that people with that security can't get a mortgage, they can't get their way in life and advance. And Australians don't ask for much. They want a better future for their kids than they enjoyed, a better standard of living. They want decent working conditions. And that's what the labour movement has fought for a long period of time. That's what Shane Hamilton will fight for. And it's something that is being undermined as a conscious decision by the current LNP Government.

JOURNALIST: Should COVID-19 vaccines be made mandatory for people working in disability care?

ALBANESE: Look, the issue here is that people can't get access to the vaccine. I haven't met anyone in aged care or disability care who doesn't want to be vaccinated. They care about the people that they look after. They've been heroes during this pandemic. And what we have is a promise by the Government that they would all receive a vaccine by Easter. And of course, that hasn't happened. All Australians were promised that they'd be vaccinated fully by October. That was Greg Hunt's promise. And we know that that won't be delivered either. Now, instead of targets and timelines, this Government has horizons. Well, we know that horizons are never met. And we know that Australia is last in the developed world for the rollout of the vaccine. 

JOURNALIST: Should it be mandatory for disability workers? Yes or no? 

ALBANESE: Well, disability workers want to be vaccinated. They want to be vaccinated. The vaccines aren't available. This is a really simple issue when it comes to vaccinations, which is one of supply. It's the supply that is the problem here. There aren't enough deals done. And Scott Morrison last year, when he was saying that Australia was at the front of the queue, he didn't do enough deals with enough vaccines for a sufficient quantity to make sure that Australians could be vaccinated. And the real tragedy here is that Australia was doing well. We were doing well. We had natural advantages, like the fact we're an island continent. And now we're behind the rest of the world. So as the rest of the world is opening up, Australia is shutting down. And it's a direct result of Scott Morrison's failure to roll out the vaccine and to fix national quarantine.

JOURNALIST: But should it be mandatory?

ALBANESE: The problem here is they cannot get vaccines. You can't make something when there's no vaccines available. That's the issue here. And what the Government's trying to do is distract with all sorts of other issues. But the one issue facing Australia, holding us back, including holding us back from opening up our economy, is the fact that they have completely botched the rollout of the vaccine and national quarantine.

JOURNALIST: The Royal Commission into veteran suicides, why is that taking so long?

ALBANESE: Well, it took a long time for them to agree to have a Royal Commission. And I pay tribute to Julie-Ann Finney and others in the veterans' community who fought long and hard against a Government that was determined to not have a Royal Commission. Now, it's important that this Royal Commission be got right. I think it's unfortunate that the Government hasn't consulted the Opposition about the terms of reference or about the appointment of Commissioners. It is important going forward that this now be a bipartisan issue now that the Government has adopted Labor's position, that was one of the first announcements that I made as the Labor Leader back in 2019. Because I was convinced that this Royal Commission has an important role to play, not just in terms of examining what's gone wrong in the past that has led to so many veterans taking their own life and the tragedy that that represents for every one of their families, but importantly as well, making sure that we put in place procedures and support so that we resolve this issue into the future.

JOURNALIST: Should the Government reinstate JobKeeper for New South Wales?

CHALMERS: Look, whether it's JobKeeper or some other kinds of support, Scott Morrison has left the people of Sydney, in particular, hanging. And if only they could roll out the vaccines as quickly as they've ruled out help for people doing it tough as a consequence of the Prime Minister's own failures. Now, we've said all along that support for workers and small businesses should be tailored to what's actually going on in the economy. We were worried about the workers who lost their job when Josh Frydenberg cut JobKeeper. 56,000 Australians lost their jobs when he cut JobKeeper. And now tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands more, are facing a very uncertain future because Scott Morrison couldn't roll out vaccines or build purpose-built quarantine. So it's the New South Wales Liberal Government, the New South Wales Liberal Treasurer, saying that the workers and small businesses of that important state need help. Josh Frydenberg and Scott Morrison are ignoring those pleas for help. What we've said all along, whether it's JobKeeper or some other kinds of support, clearly what the Government's providing so far is insufficient, particularly when you consider that Scott Morrison caused the problem in the first place. And we don't want to see them repeat the mistake they made in Victoria, which was support that was too little and too late and too narrow and didn't help enough people through a difficult period. Scott Morrison and Josh Frydenberg have gone missing when it comes to the people of Sydney. They've gone missing when it comes to providing the support that workers and small businesses need, particularly when you consider that those workers and those small businesses wouldn't be in this situation if Scott Morrison had done his job in the first place.

JOURNALIST: Are you concerned that New South Wales will get to a point where it's prepared to live with COVID-19? And what would that mean for the Federation?

ALBANESE: Well, one of the things that we've seen in New South Wales is that they've changed messages from day to day. New South Wales was out there saying that it wouldn't have any lockdown. We know that we've had a lockdown that's been extended for three weeks now. That will have a considerable impact on the economy. And I am concerned about any suggestion that we won't take health advice, that we won't do the right thing in terms of limiting, to the extent that we can, this dreadful disease. Australians have been magnificent during this period. They've made sacrifices to look after each other. And a shout-out to all those who are doing it tough today, those people who are continuing to make sacrifices to look after their fellow Australians. What they need from Government isn't hairy-chested rhetoric about 'We won't lock down, we've got this'. What they need is practical leadership from government. That's what they're crying out for, whether it's in New South Wales or anywhere else in the country.

JOURNALIST: (Inaudible). 

HAMILTON: The resource sector is obviously a really important employer. And it starts with secure jobs. We've got people that are working in the resources industry that have a secure job, they don't have to worry about where the next pay cheque is coming from, they don't have to worry about getting a home loan, they're providing for their family. That is where it all starts. Basic fundamentals of supporting our community. We have people in our community that have a secure job, that are getting paid the same on the worksite. The rest of it will follow. Our safety will follow, people won't be scared to stand up and put safety concerns forward. And that's where it starts.

JOURNALIST: (Inaudible). Do you think it's hard for the public and our community to move past COVID if we've got these mixed messages from our Federal Member?

HAMILTON: I think what the people of Dawson need is a member that is really on their side. Someone that is just interested in looking after their local constituents and not pushing their own personal agenda. And that's what I intend to do. I'm here to serve them. That's the nature of this role and this job. It is not to push someone's personal agenda and push someone down a different road.

JOURNALIST: (Inaudible).

ALBANESE: George Christensen needs to look after the interests of his electorate. We know he has spent a lot of time over the years overseas rather than looking after the interests of people in Mackay and the region. I've been here. No one's raising with me the sort of issues that George Christensen seems obsessed about in Canberra. What they are worried about is secure jobs. They're worried about same job, same pay. They're worried about the fact that George Christensen, as a National Party member, supported Barnaby Joyce coming back, who's thrown resources out of the Cabinet, who's sidelined the resources sector. Now, George Christensen talks about resources from time to time. He's had nothing to say about the resources sector not being regarded as an important industry. And that's what excluding it from the Cabinet does. It means that the Resources Minister isn't there when discussions are taking place around the Cabinet table, about industry, about employment, about industrial relations, about our economy, about our environment. It means the resources sector has been sidelined. And I'd say for the short time that George Christensen is going to stay in the Parliament, before he goes off, for whatever reasons it is that he's not recontesting, it's about time he actually represented issues of concern to people in this electorate. The issues that people have raised with me during the visits that I've made to this electorate. I was here just a couple of months ago and I'll be back again. And I'm sure that the issues will remain the same - jobs, secure jobs, looking after people's living standards, the declining real wages, and the resources sector being looked after. Thanks.

ENDS