20 November 2024

The Federal Coalition are extremely disappointed that Federal Labor, Greens and various crossbench Senators have teamed up to block a commonsense Bill that would have overturned Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek’s disastrous decision that killed off the $1 billion McPhillamys gold mine project.

The Private Senators Bill was voted against by 27 votes to 24 in the Senate this morning, leaving the Federal Coalition outraged at the hypocrisy of many Senators who supposedly stand for jobs and Indigenous economic empowerment.

Shadow Environment Minister Jonno Duniam, who brought the Bill forward: “New South Wales Labor Senators should hang their heads in shame at voting against this Bill. The Coalition stands for sustainable jobs in our regions but we can put a line under it today: Labor has abandoned their own in the name of saving votes in inner-Sydney from the Greens”

“Tanya Plibersek didn’t even consult her Government’s specialist Indigenous cultural heritage advisor after the blue banded bee Dreaming story was floated and eventually used to stop the project in its tracks.”

“This project would have resulted in substantial economic empowerment opportunities for the local Indigenous community. It is laughable for Senators, including from the Greens that supposedly want to see a better future for Indigenous communities, to vote against this Bill.”

“This decision was flawed from the start. We are seeking to review the process that led to this decision and other shockers that are being made by Labor governments nationwide.”

Shadow Minister for Resources Susan McDonald:

“We should be very clear – this decision damages Australia, it damages our economy, our reputation and our prosperity. Every single Australian across the country has been negatively impacted by the Albanese Government’s ongoing attack on the resources sector.”

“There are 800 workers who were hoping for a well-paid job at Blayney, but they will join 8000 mine workers in Western Australia who are out of their well-paid jobs, and in Queensland hundreds of people are worried about whether they’ll have a job for Christmas. And these are not jobs that are easily replaced, they’re paid at one and a half times the average salary – that is what the Albanese Government is jeopardising.”

Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians Jacinta Nampijinpa Price:

“The decision was clearly wrong; has cost precious economic development opportunities for Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians alike, and yet Labor is arrogantly refusing to back down.”

“By voting against this Bill, the Albanese government is setting a dangerous precedent and sending a strong message to organisations like the EDO, that they support Indigenous people and cultural heritage being exploited and used for ideological purposes.”