Dissenting report by Labor Senators

1.1        The Bill emerged from consultations regarding the Hawke Report released in February 2011. It is important that following significant job losses in the North of Adelaide that there is a bipartisan approach to ensuring job opportunities and a future for those families that may be facing an uncertain future. Senator Farrell introduced the Bill.

1.2        We are disappointed the committee assigned to consider this bill recommends that the Senate does not pass the Defence Legislation Amendment (Woomera Prohibited Area) Bill 2013.

1.3        The Minister responsible approached Senator Farrell promising that this bill would be a priority of the new Government and that legislation would be in front of the Senate before Christmas 2013.

1.4        The Bill has already passed the House of Representatives and the Government has had ample time to approach Senator Farrell with any amendments to the Bill.

1.5        While the committee report states that the Government is very close to releasing its own legislation on the Woomera Prohibited Area (WPA), there is no detail forthcoming about this legislation. Labor believes that this bill could easily be amended to accommodate the limited changes which the Government has suggested. The Government should be working with this bill to make it satisfactory to everyone.

1.6        Creating job opportunities in South Australia after the announcements by Holden that they are no longer going to manufacture cars in Australia will be vital to the South Australian economy.

1.7        The announcement by Ford and Toyota that they will no longer be manufacturing cars in Australia will mean a further flow on effect of job losses in the South Australian in the car component industry.

1.8        The job losses of those not directly employed by the car makers but associated with the shutdown of the car manufacturing business in South Australia will impact many families.

1.9        Opening the WPA for resources exploration and mining will create skilled jobs opportunities and a transition for those effected people.

1.10      The committee states that proper consultation has not occurred with traditional owners and pastoralists. It is our understanding that there has been ongoing consultation between all parties involved.

1.11      The committee states that it is concerned about the impact on trade and guarantee of supply for the Northern Territory if the Stuart Highway was to be impacted. The WPA is twice the size of Tasmania, a large area.

1.12      The remote chance that the Highway will be impacted for short periods of time should not prevent this legislation from going ahead because it is in the nation's best interest to proceed with the exploration of the area. The Highway and the Woomera Defence Base have co-existed for many years with no significant impact on trade with the Northern Territory.

1.13      The Hawke Report recommending these changes has been released some time ago and the bill has already passed the House of Representatives. 

Recommendation

1.14      That the committee recommends the bill be supported.

Senator the Hon Ursula Stephens                       Senator the Hon John Faulkner

Deputy Chair

 

Senator the Hon Don Farrell 

Navigation: Previous Page | Contents | Next Page