Minister Murray Watt visits Tasmania

It was wonderful to join with my colleague Senator Carol Brown this morning to welcome the Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Minister for Emergency Management, Murray Watt – Senator for Queensland, as he visits primary producers across Tasmania with his Tasmanian parliamentary colleagues.

With severe weather warnings across parts of the states today, we encourage everyone to keep safe, drive to the conditions, and stay away from downed powerlines

New Frontiers Conference

It is wonderful to attend New Frontiers: The Biennial Conference of the National Federation of Australia Japan Societies in Adelaide today as Chair of the Australia-Japan Parliamentary Friendship group representing the Government and Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong – Senator for SA.

Australia and Japan share deep and longstanding trade and investment, defence, scientific research, and cultural ties.

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Hobart Building Coimmunity Forum

I was pleased to introduce my colleague, Assistant Minister for Charities Andrew Leigh MP at the sixth Building Community Forum in Hobart.

Assistant Minister Leigh is holding these forums across Australia to talk to charities about how the Albanese Labor Government can support them and their volunteers, and how we reconnect and rebuild communities, particularly after the tough times of the COVID pandemic.

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Transport Workers Union National Conference

Last week the Transport Workers Union – TWU held their National Conference in Hobart.

The TWU Team represents and advocates for the rights and conditions of TWU members, understanding the pressure transport workers face . They are “fighting for fair” each and every day.

Transport workers ensure Australians have the goods and services they rely on, no matter the crisis. It was transport workers who put themselves at risk to keep Australia fed and clothed through the pandemic.

Sadly, the current Federal Govt has let transport workers down. They have deliberately eroded industrial law, stacked the Fair Work Commission, ignored thousands of workers in their time of need, encouraged low growth and insecure work which has stripped pay and conditions of thousands of workers and (appallingly) abolished the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal.

These issues have negatively affected many TWU members whether they work in transport, airlines, or in the gig economy.

It was wonderful to be able to attend the National Conference dinner, hear the impassioned speeches and catch up with people both local and interstate. Thank you for the invite TWU.

There is strength in the Union.

Transport Workers Union, Victorian/Tasmanian Branch – TWUVicTasUnions Tasmania

Tasmanian Labor &Senator Tony SheldonDean Winter MPToby Thorpe – Labor Candidate for Huon