John,

Welcome to Labor’s Senate Select(ions) - a wrap of this week’s developments from the Senate.

POWERFUL STATEMENTS ON FIRST NATIONS DEATHS IN CUSTODY

I want to begin with an important contribution from Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, who shared with the Senate the names and circumstances of 31 recent First Nations deaths in custody.

Malarndirri wanted to tell their stories, and ensure that the Parliament heard their names, in the midst of so much division. It was a reminder to all that behind the statistics are real people, with real families – many left without justice.

We also heard from the father of Reconciliation, Senator Pat Dodson, who told the Senate that now, more than ever, Australia cannot afford to be unreconciled.

WOMEN BEAR THE BRUNT, AS JOB LOSSES CONTINUE

New labour force data this week, showed us the heartbreaking impact of the recession on hundreds of thousands of Australian workers, with 835,000 jobs lost since the worst of the virus hit.

The response to the pandemic has shone a light on the role of women in the workforce in particular.

Scott Morrison promised that Australians receiving job keeper would be guaranteed the payment until the end of September but since making that promise has announced that up to 120,000 early childhood educators will lose the payment in a few weeks’ time.

Katy Gallagher spoke in the Senate this week about how the lack of support for female dominated industries shows how little the Morrison Government cares about women.

GOVERNMENT AND PAULINE HANSON REJECT CHANCE TO HELP DNATA WORKERS

The Morrison Government this week rejected the chance to save thousands of Australians jobs, preferring to vote with Pauline Hanson’s One Nation to deny Dnata workers access to JobKeeper.

Pauline Hanson and Scott Morrison had a choice about whether they were going to stand up for hard-working aviation cleaners, caterers, ramp worker and security officers.

They chose instead to leave these workers behind – workers like Nelly and Darlene. Senator Tony Sheldon shared their words with the Senate:

FAREWELL TO A FRIEND

And finally, I wanted to share a lovely moment from the Senate, to end the week.

Chamber Supervisor, John Brown has been working in the Parliament for almost two decades. This was his final week with us, before retirement.

The attendants are critically important to ensuring the Chamber runs smoothly, and democracy functions. They are in early, and often the last to leave and we all are grateful for their efforts. It was important we all paused to pay tribute to John, and his lifetime of service. And as I joked to John, his time in the Senate means he’s well prepared for the adventures retirement will bring – take a look:

Next week the Senate Select Committee investigating the Morrison Government’s coronavirus response resumes with evidence from the trade union movement, including the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance which represents a sector left behind by the Government through this crisis.

Thank you for taking the time to read this week’s Labor Senate Select(ions).

Until next time,

Senator Penny Wong
Labor Leader in the Senate