Transport Infrastructure and Manufacturing Industry

Hansard ID: HANSARD-1323879322-120861

Hansard session: Fifty-Seventh Parliament, First Session (57-1)

Transport Infrastructure and Manufacturing Industry

Ms PRUE CAR (Londonderry) (16:59:17):

I move:

That this House calls on the Government to stop offshoring public transport infrastructure and instead support New South Wales jobs through domestic manufacturing.

There is a really important reason that I move this motion today. The Government's offshoring of public transport infrastructure must stop. At the hands of the Liberals and The Nationals, New South Wales public transport is a mess. Infrastructure that should have been built here in New South Wales was sent overseas by the Liberals and The Nationals, costing Australian jobs and leaving Australian taxpayers to pick up the bill for cost blowouts and dud deals.

Let us look at the Government's record when it comes to abandoning New South Wales jobs and sending transport infrastructure work overseas. The Liberals and The Nationals have given us ferries built in China and Indonesia. The RiverCat ferries have asbestos in them, are too high to pass under bridges on Parramatta River and cannot even operate at night—good job, New South Wales Government! The Emerald class ferries that are to replace the iconic Manly Freshwater ferries are riddled with problems, too. That is 669 Australian jobs lost because of the Government's offshoring agenda. It has built 38 northern beaches B‑Line buses in Malaysia. That is a further166 Australian jobs gone because of the Government's offshoring agenda.

It has sourced an Intercity train fleet from South Korea at a cost of $2.88 billion. As all members know, the fleet was too wide to fit the tunnels and is now 18 months late. That is a further 1,440 Australian jobs lost because of the Government's offshoring agenda. The Government has sent train building to China, resulting in a further 1,337 Australian jobs lost because of its offshoring agenda. The Sydney Metro Northwest trains were sourced from India—another 823 Australian jobs gone. Why? Because of the New South Wales Government's offshoring agenda. It has left us with light rail trams built in France and Spain. It has been a light rail fail on a massive scale. We have got cracked trams, a whole line down and another 591 Australian jobs lost—all because the Liberals and The Nationals do not care about local manufacturing.

After examining the New South Wales Government's mass-scale mismanagement of transport infrastructure, the McKell Institute found that those six major offshore procurements saw budget increases of 40 per cent to 50 per cent. That is 40 per cent to 50 per cent in cost blowouts on the taxpayers' dime. The McKell Institute found those 40 per cent to 50 per cent in cost blowouts eliminate any possible cost savings that the Government could use to justify this offshoring agenda. This is the level of mismanagement our State is left with after more than a decade of the Liberal-Nationals Government. The Government just did the same thing over and over again. It has destroyed domestic manufacturing jobs that should have always remained here.

But what do we know all too well when it comes to Dominic Perrottet and this Liberal-Nationals Government? We know that leopards do not change their spots. Just look at the way Government members voted in this Parliament last week. They had the opportunity to admit their mistakes and end the offshoring of transport infrastructure projects, but what happened when they were given this opportunity? Not a single Liberal member voted to stop building transport infrastructure overseas. Not a single Nationals member voted to stop building transport infrastructure overseas.

The result of the Liberals' failed record is the unemployment figures. They hit communities like mine in western Sydney and the communities of all members. In my electorate they hit businesses like Custom Denning Buses in St Marys. That company can build low‑emission buses in western Sydney right now. It can create local jobs right now. It is not being used by the Government. Instead a decade of Liberal Government mismanagement has put these local jobs that should be created in St Marys in the firing line, and no Liberal or Nationals member has stood up against it. No Liberal claiming to represent western Sydney stood up and said finally, "Enough is enough."

The simple fact of the matter is this: 11 long years of Liberal Government has meant more than a decade of offshoring and outsourcing. After 11 long years of mismanagement, the cracks are really starting to show: trains do not fit the tracks; ferries cannot drive at night; trams crack only several years into their service. And those are just the areas of New South Wales that actually have public transport. Look at communities like Marsden Park in my electorate in north‑western Sydney, one of the fastest growing areas of our State. That community had to fight its own government just to get a bus to its local train station, and there is no progress in sight for the metro stations at Marsden Park or Schofields.

After 11 years the Liberal‑Nationals Government has no excuse. There is no wriggling out of a broken transport agenda that has done exactly what the Liberals and Nationals intended. There is no cut and run for the Liberals and Nationals who voted last week to oppose local manufacturing. There will be no slap on the wrist for the wreckers because every day we will hold them to account. The people of New South Wales will hold them to account for sending New South Wales jobs overseas in return for second‑rate transport infrastructure from a third‑rate government. New South Wales will not forget what has befallen manufacturing. The people of New South Wales want to see "made in Australia" again, but under Dominic Perrottet and the Liberals there is a better chance of winning the lottery.

Mr JAMES GRIFFIN (Manly) (17:06:30):

I thank the member for Londonderry for bringing this public interest debate before the House. Members on the Government side of the House reject any assertion by those opposite that the Government is not doing enough to support local businesses, local jobs and local manufacturing here in New South Wales. Accordingly, I seek to amend the motion. I move:

That the motion be amended by leaving out all words after 'that' with a view to inserting instead:

This House acknowledges the Government on delivering world‑class transport infrastructure while supporting New South Wales jobs through domestic manufacturing.

From the refurbishment of the First Fleet‑class ferries to the on‑demand MiniCat ferry, the River‑class fleet and the Generation 2 Emerald‑class fleet, this Government is investing in local business and labour from here in Sydney to Port Macquarie and across this great State. Following the decision to complete the final fit‑out of the three Emerald‑class vessels at Port Macquarie, further job opportunities were created for local workers. I note that members opposite have referred to these assets as "cheap junk", which is an appalling reflection on our hardworking local businesses and workers.

I acknowledge the member for Port Macquarie, who has come out fighting against the lies of the Opposition and is backing in Australian manufacturing. Unlike those opposite, the Government has a proven track record delivering for local manufacturing and businesses in New South Wales. Even when there is no local tenderer in a procurement process, this Government ensures New South Wales benefits from jobs being generated locally through maintaining and updating our vital transport assets. When the Waratah Series 2 trains were procured there was no local tenderer who proposed to build them in Australia; however, the fleet is maintained in Sydney. Sixty new jobs have been created for the life of the 25‑year maintenance contract to maintain the 41 Waratah Series 2 trains. That is 60 families benefiting from this very investment, alongside the tens of thousands of commuters every day across the network.

Whilst there is no local manufacturer bid to build the new Mariyung intercity trains in Australia, despite local manufacturers being provided the same opportunities to bid for the fleet, local suppliers have contributed to the fleet. Moreover, the contractor responsible for designing and building the Mariyung fleet's maintenance facility in Kangy Angy, John Holland, has hired local Central Coast residents, including Indigenous Australians, and has achieved the employment target of one apprentice for every four tradespeople. Ninety permanent jobs will be created when the Kangy Angy facility is fully operational over the next 20 years.

Mr Adam Crouch:

Twenty years.

Mr JAMES GRIFFIN:

I note that interjection. I speak of a local supplier in Sydney—

The DEPUTY SPEAKER:

Order! The member for Wyong and the member for Terrigal will come to order.

Mr JAMES GRIFFIN:

—based in the great community of Bella Vista, r2p Asia‑Pacific, whose technology is used in 80 per cent of the Sydney Trains fleet, and they are exporting to over 30 countries. That is a Sydney‑based transport manufacturer exporting to over 30 countries, as well as heavy and light rail fleets across Australia. R2Pp's transport and commuter solutions include passenger information systems and display; public announcement solutions; intelligent HELP points; disability communications, including hearing loops; train communications; and train CCTV—all cutting‑edge solutions for our modern transport solutions. Those opposite only want to talk down local manufacturing—those businesses and workers who are contributing to our local transport economy, creating local jobs and supporting families across this State. For the benefit of those opposite, here are some more inconvenient facts about Australian manufacturing of our local projects: More than 90 per cent of the 550 tonnes of steel used to build the Sydney Metro Northwest skytrain was sourced in Australia; 92 per cent of the 7,300 tonnes of steel being used to build the new underground metro platforms is sourced in Australia; the majority of steel procured for WestConnex—

The DEPUTY SPEAKER:

Order! There is too much audible conversation in the Chamber.

Mr JAMES GRIFFIN:

—that great transport project connecting Sydney like never before, is Australian steel sourced from Australian mills; 99 per cent of the steel used to build NorthConnex, again, is Australian steel; 100 per cent of the 7,000 tonnes of steel used to reinforce the Sydney Metro tunnels was sourced in Australia; and where possible this State's transport road assets are built, designed, managed or maintained in Australia and New South Wales. I reiterate that Transport for NSW complies with the New South Wales Government's clear procurement and policy guidelines to ensure all tenders are competitive and transparent and deliver value for New South Wales taxpayers as well as the best outcome for customers.

The track record of those opposite leaves much to be desired. Over 600 brand‑new carriages that were promised to replace 30‑year‑old non‑air‑conditioned trains were not delivered. Rail lines and roads, such as the CBD to Rozelle metro and the M4 East, were never delivered. This Government is delivering for the people of New South Wales. Those opposite are interested only in playing politics with local manufacturing and New South Wales workers.

Ms YASMIN CATLEY (Swansea) (17:11:33):

It is no secret that I am a fierce and passionate advocate for local manufacturing. Labor believes in local manufacturing, and that is why we have been working with industry, business, unions and workers to produce a policy that will guarantee real, long‑term, stable jobs for workers in this State. Long‑term, stable and permanent employment underpins families, neighbourhoods and communities. We cannot be a nation of gig economy workers, fly‑in, fly‑out workers and zero‑hour contractors. We cannot allow the casualisation of entire industries and careers to march on unchecked. We cannot give up on the ingenuity, the innovation and the expertise of our local engineers and designers, and we cannot continue to justify the economic nonsense of sending taxpayers' money offshore to build trains, trams, buses and ferries that could, should and must be built here locally.

We cannot keep perpetuating the lie, peddled by Government members, that we do not have the skills or the expertise for local manufacturing or, indeed, that we are just not good at it. Remember, that is what they said. Unlike the Government, Labor believes in local jobs and local industry. We have businesses right here in New South Wales—we just heard about some from the member for Londonderry—and we want to give them a go. They want a go. Give them a go, Liberals! But the only jobs the Government supports are those that are overseas. We have heard the member for Londonderry articulate all the countries. Under the Liberal‑Nationals Government, billions upon billions of dollars have been spent on wasted projects, all overseas. We all know why the Government has engaged in this economic lunacy. The former Premier gave the game away when she told us that the Government does not believe that New South Wales workers are up to the job. That is what she said.

Let us have a look at what the Government has spent billions on. I know the member for Londonderry has already said this, but we must say it again, and again, and again. The trains from South Korea do not fit the tracks. Then there are the ferries, which were riddled with asbestos when they arrived. They do not fit under the bridges. They continually stall when they are whacked in reverse. Did I mention they cannot be driven at night? Let us not forget the Spanish and French trams. They continually break down, creating chaos all over the city. Now the Inner West Light Rail is out of commission, and for how long?

Ms Prue Car:

Eighteen months.

Ms YASMIN CATLEY:

That is right, 18 months. But it gets better. Where does the Government send those shoddy ferries, which arrived with asbestos, to bring them up to scratch? Only to one of the main manufacturing hubs in this State—the Port of Newcastle. Our manufacturing workers are seen to be good enough to fix up the mess—they brought them in as the clean-up crew—but they were not invested in in the first place because you do not care about workers and you do not care about manufacturing. Well, I will tell you: As a girl from Newcastle, I know the pride of our region's manufacturing history. From trains to ferries and everything in between, workers took pride in building the transport infrastructure that moves the people of this State around. We used to be a State that made and designed things. We used to be a State that took pride. We used to be a State that built the best and we were proud of it. Now we are a State that is held hostage to world markets and global supply chains.

Our TAFE system has been gutted. Our apprenticeships and cadetships that once offered our young people a bright future have been completely undermined. It has taken the Government just 10 years to screw the whole thing up. It is time to turn it around and take pride in our expertise. It is time to back local workers and local industry. It is time for the Government to abandon its obsession with offshoring and wasting taxpayer money. There is something very wrong when, through the mentality of members in this place, we legislate away local jobs from local businesses—it does not make sense. Labor wants a bright future for our young people, and a sustainable future for our regions and our rural towns. Labor wants a resilient, clever and innovative business sector that is given a chance to thrive locally and to employ local people. Labor wants businesses to be able to trade globally and to provide stable, well-paid jobs for generations of workers to come. Every member in this place knows that this can only be delivered by a party that believes in local manufacturing and local workers, and there is only one party that believes in that, and that is the great Australian Labor Party.

Mr MARK COURE (Oatley) (17:16:46):

New South Wales has Australia's largest—

Mr Ron Hoenig:

Point of order: Unless a Minister or Parliamentary Secretary is at the table, the House cannot sit. The member for Manly has left the Chamber.

Mr MARK COURE:

A Parliamentary Secretary has arrived.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER:

The member for Heffron may resume his seat.

Mr MARK COURE:

New South Wales has Australia's largest manufacturing sector, representing 30 per cent of natural output and employing 253,000 people. Currently there are just under 30,000 manufacturing businesses in New South Wales, which accounts for 31 per cent of Australia's manufacturing. That is more than any other State or Territory at $20.3 billion a year.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER:

Order! The member for Londonderry will have the right of reply.

Mr MARK COURE:

Manufactured goods are New South Wales largest export and that number is growing by 7.5 per cent each year. There are potential manufacturing locations throughout New South Wales. Western Sydney is the ideal place to make a manufacturing base because you can take advantage of the second international airport that is currently under construction. Western Sydney is the State's engine room and it has established hubs for aerospace, advanced manufacturing and fruit processing. Greater Sydney is also known for its world-leading defence electronics and medical device producers. Regional New South Wales is an integral and important part of the State's manufacturing sector and is well connected to metropolitan areas and transportation hubs up and down the coast.

Ms Yasmin Catley:

Name one.

Mr MARK COURE:

I will in my conclusion. The Government is all about jobs, jobs and more jobs. We are creating them, we are keeping them—unlike Labor when it was in Government for 16 years. We saw an economic recession from the members opposite.

Opposition members interjected

[.]

Hold on. You all had your chance.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER:

The member for Oatley will direct his comments through the Chair.

Mr MARK COURE:

Madam Deputy Speaker, through you: You all had your chance! I could go on all afternoon, but we have already achieved and supported local manufacturing. Let us talk about the here and now. The first locally manufactured electric buses will roll out in Sydney later this year as the New South Wales Government charges ahead with its plan to electrify the bus fleet by 2030. The Element electric bus, built by Custom Denning, will be the first electric bus entirely manufactured in New South Wales. That is a great win for New South Wales. The shadow Minister for Transport, whom I like—

The DEPUTY SPEAKER:

Order! The member for Oatley will not respond to interjections. He will direct his comments through the Chair.

Mr MARK COURE:

The shadow Minister for Transport agrees with the electric buses that we are supporting. Busways has already placed an order for six new electric buses from Custom Bus Group, and we look forward to many more local bus companies taking up the opportunity to support local manufacturing and local jobs. This is a Government that supports manufacturing! Custom Bus Group has been building buses in Sydney for more than 65 years and has built—

Opposition members interjected

[.]

Madam Deputy Speaker, someone needs to protect me from those opposite!

The DEPUTY SPEAKER:

Order! Opposition members will resume their seats.

Mr MARK COURE:

The Custom Bus Group has been building buses in Sydney for more than 65 years and has built more than 700 diesel buses for the New South Wales Government over the past 10 years. Currently 12 people are working on the electric bus project, and that is exciting news because it will grow to over 300 as 400 buses are built each and every year.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER:

Order! The member for Swansea will come to order.

Mr MARK COURE:

When it comes to manufacturing in New South Wales the Liberal‑Nationals Government is leading the charge compared to any other State or Territory. We are creating jobs and we are keeping those jobs.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER:

Order! I call the member for Swansea to order for the first time.

Mr MARK COURE:

We have the fastest growing economy compared to any State or Territory in Australia.

Ms Yasmin Catley:

In the world.

Mr MARK COURE:

In the universe. I will leave it there.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER:

Order! I remind all members of the COVID social distancing rules and I ask that all members comply with those rules.

Ms TRISH DOYLE (Blue Mountains) (17:22:48):

I will tell a story of incompetence covering a handful of years. Back in August 2016 I described the Baird Government's decision to build the new intercity fleet overseas as a slap in the face to Australian manufacturing workers. I expressed my fear that the new trains for the Blue Mountains line were off-the-shelf models that "are not designed with local conditions and passenger expectations in mind". At that point the Government awarded a $2.3 billion contract to an overseas consortium to build the new trains in South Korea. Local companies with Australian manufacturing plants tendered for the contract to build the 512 train carriages, but were overlooked by the New South Wales transport Minister. The Liberal Government knows the price of everything and the value of nothing. We have local designers and manufacturing workers with decades of knowledge and expertise who are ready to build high-quality modern trains. At the time I said:

Up to 1200 jobs that should have been created in NSW will never eventuate thanks to Mr Baird.

It's disgraceful that a contract of this size did not mandate local materials and local skills.

A month later—still 2016—I asked questions on notice about the new trains with specific queries about size, length and compatibility with the Blue Mountains platforms and tunnels, but the Minister dismissed those questions with wishy-washy answers. He showed he did not know, and he did not care, what the answers were. He said that the first of the 512 double‑deck train carriages to be rolled off the assembly line in South Korea were expected to begin services at the beginning of 2019. Defending the decision for the carriages to be built in South Korea, the transport Minister said, "In this case the procurement stacks up—it's a 25 per cent saving by going with this consortium." UGL's consortium partners, South Korea's Hyundai Rotem, were given the job to test and commission the carriages. A few months later, transport authorities in the US State of Pennsylvania were forced to temporarily remove from service a third of 360 carriages that Hyundai Rotem was responsible for designing and building. Again, in mid‑2016, I stood here and said:

It is boring me to death, but it beggars belief that the Baird Government is buying trains that are 20 centimetres too wide for the tracks in the Blue Mountains. The trains do not fit the tracks. It would make me sick with anger if it were not so funny.

That sums up the Baird, Berejiklian and Perrottet governments from start to finish. It is a joke, and they are making the people of New South Wales the punchline. The people of western Sydney and beyond deserve better than a transport Minister who does not know how wide his trains are. They deserve an opportunity to work on big projects, such as train manufacturing, but those jobs are being sent offshore to South Korea. What about building the new trains in Lithgow in the Central West? That way they could quickly check the size. I said—and I repeat today:

This hopeless Government could not run a bath, much less the State of New South Wales.

In November 2016 I asked to debate the Baird Government over its intercity train procurement project. I said:

… it has become clear to me and my colleagues that the Minister for Transport is incompetent and that we are hurtling towards a point of no return with a doomed project that will cost taxpayers billions of dollars. Members opposite like to style themselves as low-spending economic rationalists …

We are being forced to accept low-quality trains built overseas to an off-the-shelf design, with seats that face the wrong way and inefficient winter heating systems. The list goes on …

I sat down and did the homework that Andrew Constance clearly force-fed to his dog and found that the cut-price trains he is buying do not fit the tracks.

Time expired.

In a newspaper article in March 2017 I was reported as saying that I was extremely concerned for the safety of commuters after more and more US cases of critical structural flaws in trains designed by Hyundai Rotem were found and they were taken off the tracks. In 2017 and again today I say that the Labor Party knows that New South Wales train manufacturing workers have the skills, know-how and experience to produce high-quality trains. This Government needs to sack itself and let the manufacturing workers of New South Wales and Labor take over. []

Ms GABRIELLE UPTON (Vaucluse) (17:28:01):

I have seen the proof of western Sydney manufacturing in my electorate supporting sustainable environmentally aware buses. I stood with the transport Minister in March last year. We had a trial for six months in my electorate and by September we had announced 10 new buses that were made by—guess who—Custom Denning, a substantial bus manufacturing business in the electorate of the member for Londonderry. That is a substantial manufacturing operation that is providing benefits across the State, including in my electorate where we are serving people who, like the people of the west, rely on good public transport for reasons that—

Mr Ron Hoenig:

Looking after Vaucluse.

Ms GABRIELLE UPTON:

What are you saying? Are you disagreeing with the fact—

The DEPUTY SPEAKER:

Order! The member for Vaucluse will direct her comments through the Chair.

Ms GABRIELLE UPTON:

The point of that statement is that substantial manufacturing businesses in the west are supplying our State, including electorates that are beyond the western suburbs of Sydney

The DEPUTY SPEAKER:

I remind the member for Summer Hill that she is already on one call to order.

Ms GABRIELLE UPTON:

I do not know whether the member for Londonderry has met Scott Dunn.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER:

I call the member for Summer Hill to order for the second time.

Ms Prue Car:

Yes, I have met him several times.

Ms GABRIELLE UPTON:

Have you met Scott Dunn?

The DEPUTY SPEAKER:

I remind the member for Londonderry that she is on two calls to order. I call the member for Londonderry to order for the third time.

Ms GABRIELLE UPTON:

The member for Londonderry should talk to Scott Dunn about the contracts. The name of the company is Custom Denning and Scott Dunn is the managing director.

Ms Yasmin Catley:

Point of order—

The DEPUTY SPEAKER:

Order! Stop the clock. The member for Vaucluse will resume her seat.

Ms Yasmin Catley:

The member should be speaking through the Chair—

The DEPUTY SPEAKER:

Yes, I have directed her—

Ms Yasmin Catley:

—not directly to the member for Londonderry.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER:

I have heard enough. The member for Swansea will resume her seat.

Ms Yasmin Catley:

She is flouting your ruling.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER:

Order! I have asked the member for Vaucluse to direct her comments through the Chair. There is also a standing order about interrupting other members. The member for Swansea might want to take note of that one as well. The member for Vaucluse has the call.

Ms GABRIELLE UPTON:

I recommend that the member for Londonderry makes herself more acquainted with the work of Scott Dunn through Custom Denning, which has existed for 16 years in manufacturing buses and has supplied to my local electorate 10 buses, operational from September last year—the first electric buses in my electorate—and can I say we welcome them with open arms. It is a great example of how our local manufacturing industry in New South Wales is supplying new evolutionary ways of transporting people across this State, which is ticking not only the environmental sustainability box but also the local manufacturing box. That completely undermines the premise of this debate in this Chamber. It is not only about what Scott Dunn does as the managing director of Custom Denning; it is also about the very strong support that this Government has for advanced manufacturing industries.

Advanced manufacturing industries are about using technology to do manufacturing more smartly. There is no greater example than in the aerotropolis—again one that is near the electorate of the member for Londonderry—where many MOUs have been signed with industry and manufacturers. The reason it is close to the electorate of the member for Londonderry is because the west of Sydney has many of the advanced manufacturing businesses in this State. Why is all of that investment going to the aerotropolis? It is because we have the Lady Nancy-Bird Walton airport.

Mr David Harris:

It is still a paddock.

Ms GABRIELLE UPTON:

It is not a paddock. Have you taken notice of exactly what is happening there at the moment?

The DEPUTY SPEAKER:

Order!

Ms GABRIELLE UPTON:

They are building a runway for the Lady Nancy-Bird Walton airport. More than 200,000 jobs will be created in the aerotropolis. The CSIRO is going to take one of its major offices out there and will support the manufacturing efforts that are going on at the aerotropolis. It is not only in the aerotropolis that advanced manufacturing is taking place in this State, which is locally supported by companies. At Tech Central—we only have to take a walk to Central Railway and we will see lots of trains that service the New South Wales community—we have advanced manufacturing businesses that are also setting up shop, that are getting support through our programs. If we go to Eveleigh, SpeeDx is an advanced manufacturing company. It is an advanced diagnostic technology company that is headquartered in Sydney. It has offices in the UK and in the US. It is building a new facility in Eveleigh through our Jobs Plus program to support the growth of advanced manufacturing in the diagnostics industry and it will open its premises at the beginning of December 2021. I am going to go there to see what they are doing.

That is another example of another part of manufacturing in the medical diagnostics field that this Government is supporting in this State. I caution the member for Londonderry: There are indeed great examples of manufacturing in her electorate that are serving electorates like mine with new innovative products. The aerotropolis is a great example of where we will have more advanced manufacturing products and businesses based.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER:

Order! The member for Oatley will come to order. I call the member for Oatley to order for the second time.

Ms GABRIELLE UPTON:

It is just rubbish to be arguing the point here that there is no local manufacturing in this State. In fact, I have an example in my backyard.

Ms PRUE CAR (Londonderry) (17:33:43):

In reply: I thank all the members who made contributions to this very important debate. However, I want to take up some of the issues raised by the member for Vaucluse. I do not know how seriously this Government takes the issue of domestic manufacturing by sending the member for Vaucluse to this Chamber to lecture the people of western Sydney about manufacturing in western Sydney.

Obviously the member for Vaucluse has never visited western Sydney. I do not think it is appropriate to use businesses such as Custom Denning as a political tool in this Chamber. That business has provided 10 buses but we should be using companies like it to produce large-scale transport infrastructure. That is the issue that goes to the heart of this motion.

The Government cannot run away from the fact that it has been outsourcing work and sending manufacturing offshore and that has resulted in Aussie jobs going overseas. Families everywhere in communities such as mine are worried that their children will not have the apprenticeship and cadetship opportunities that they and their parents had. This Government says that to save money it has to outsource work and send manufacturing offshore. But it has not saved money by doing that; it has cost the taxpayer more money. When do the people of New South Wales win when it comes to outsourcing work and sending manufacturing offshore? The answer is that they do not.

We have trains that not fit the tracks. We have ferries that require customers to duck when they go under bridges on the Parramatta River. They cannot be driven at night or withstand Australian seas, and they have asbestos in them. We now have trams with cracks that are so wide you could push your head through them. That is nothing less than a series of dud deals for the people of New South Wales that are costing us money and taking away our children's jobs. The best that this Government can do is send the member for Vaucluse to this Chamber to patronise and lecture the people of western Sydney. I can tell the Government that the Labor Party will raise this issue every day until the next election because the people of New South Wales—people in the Hunter, the Illawarra and western Sydney—want to see "Made in Australia". Our children deserve a future that enables them to get manufacturing work in this State, not a future where jobs are sent overseas.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER:

The member for Londonderry has moved a motion, to which the member for Manly has moved an amendment. The question is that the amendment be agreed to.

The House divided.

Ayes18

Noes13

Majority5

Amendment agreed to.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER:

The question is that the motion as amended be agreed to.

The House divided.

Ayes17

Noes13

Majority4

Motion as amended agreed to.