Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister
PATRICK GORMAN, ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER: What we have seen this week is a Coalition who only rocked up to vote no. They rocked up to vote no to more affordable housing. They rocked up to vote no on climate action. They rocked up to vote no on manufacturing in the future manufacturing in this country. And while it does feel like we are back to the old days of the No-alition, what we saw from the Greens was something even more interesting, which is that they didn't rock up to vote at all.
The Greens political party chose, on this big question of housing, to walk out the door of the House. They chose not to vote or not to make a decision. Now, I have my criticisms of Bob Brown and the Greens political party for what they did on the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, but at least Bob Brown had the courage of his convictions to vote for what he believed in. And when it comes to the Greens party, they just walked out the door when they were asked the question on behalf of the people that sent them here. And that is just so disappointing for people who want to see more affordable housing in this country.
What we're seeing with the sort of Liberal-National-Greens No-alition that is forming is the Australian people who miss out. People expect us to come here and do our job. If we've got a Coalition who just always vote no, and we've got a Greens political party who don't vote at all, than neither of those political parties are doing their job.
The Albanese Government came here this week to deliver more affordable housing. We had a mandate at the election to do it. We came here this week to reinvest in manufacturing. We have a mandate from the election to do it. And we came here to make sure that we can continue to take action on climate change. Again, a mandate from the people of Australia to get that done.
So, while we wrap up this week in Parliament, we will leave the No-alition and their complete lack of ideas behind. There is an exciting thing happening in Western Australia next week. For the first time, Cabinet will meet in Port Hedland. For the first time, Cabinet will meet in the top of a shipping tower, and it will be the first meeting of the Albanese Cabinet in Western Australia. This is a very exciting time to be bringing all the ministers over to WA to see not just the great mining industry in the wonderful town of Port Hedland - and I checked the weather 30 to 36 degrees, so be a little warm.
But I think it's going to be a wonderful day on Monday with a number of ministers in and around Perth, and then on Tuesday up in Port Hedland listening to the people of Western Australia, talking about our plans for a better future, talking about what we want to get done. Affordable housing, acting on climate change, reinvigorating Australian manufacturing because we also know that it's the regions of Australia, including regions like Port Hedland, that will be the main beneficiaries of delivering the National Reconstruction Fund. So I look forward to welcoming all of my colleagues to the west next week. It will be very exciting, and I'm sure it won't be the last time we see the Cabinet in Western Australia in the near future or indeed this term. Thank you.
