Labor leader Anthony Albanese admits he 'doesn't know' what happens in the Senate in an extraordinary interview
- Labor Leader Anthony Albanese admits he doesn't know what happens in Senate
- Mr Albanese made the admission during a recent radio interview in Adelaide
- Question posed after Senate voted down motion to save South Australian jobs
Labor leader Anthony Albanese admitted during a radio interview he 'doesn't know' what happens in the Senate after being questioned over a motion being voted down.
Speaking on FiveAA radio, Mr Albanese was asked why the Senate voted down a motion to keep submarine dock work - and hundreds of jobs - in South Australia.
'Mate, I don't know from time to time what happens in the Senate, I have got to say. People move motions,' he said.
'I know it is (an important issue), but also, what often happens in the Senate is that there is grandstanding for various reasons.
'I'm not aware of what happened in the Senate.'
Federal Labor Leader Anthony Albanese (pictured) has said in a radio interview he doesn't know what goes on in the Senate after a controversial vote over a motion to save jobs in SA
Mr Albanese claimed South Australian senators stood up for their state but was told they all voted against the motion.
Centre Alliance senator Rex Patrick tabled the motion to prevent moving submarine manufacturing and maintenance from South Australia to Western Australia.
Share this article
'Disappointingly, South Australian Labor senators, led by Penny Wong, failed to stand up for South Australia. South Australian Liberal senators, led by Minister Anne Ruston, failed to stand up for South Australia,' he said.
He said the move would cut 700 jobs from 800 businesses which provided $400 million to the economy.
Senator Patrick said submarine availability would also suffer under the move and by extension 'damage national security'.
Senator Patrick said it would undermine national security and take away hundreds of jobs is the manufacturing of the Collins Class submarines (pictured) was moved completely to WA
Despite his plea Senator Patrick's motion was voted down.
South Australian Labor leader Peter Malinauskas threw his support behind Senator Patrick's motion and said he would help fight for jobs in the state.
He said it was important to 'stand up to your friends' when you knew it was right and he will take the fight to the top if need be.
'I will always stand up for South Australia and South Australian jobs,' he said.
'I am willing to fight for (submarine jobs) every set of the way, including standing up to Federal Labor on its vote in the Senate, which I think was incredibly disappointing.
'Standing up to your enemies is one thing, but standing up to your friends is just as important.'
Mr Albanese claimed South Australian senators stood up for their state but was quickly told they all voted against a motion by Senator Rex Patrick (pictured) to prevent submarine manufacturing jobs being moved to Western Australia
Comments 0
Share what you think
No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.
