4th Dec 2018, 4:07 PM – Senate Motions - Defence Facilities: Chemical Contamination - Voluntary buybacks

The majority voted against a motion introduced by United Australia Party Senator Brian Burston (NSW), which means it failed.

Motion text

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) the Coalition Government has confirmed that they will not offer voluntary buybacks for the residents surrounding the RAAF base at Williamtown in New South Wales who are affected by PFAS contamination,

(ii) the Australian Labor Party (ALP) has also voted with the Coalition Government in the Senate against voluntary buybacks for the residents surrounding the RAAF base at Williamtown who are affected by PFAS contamination,

(iii) those residents affected by the PFAS contamination coming from the RAAF Base at Williamtown reside in the Federal electorate of Paterson, which is held by the ALP by more than 10% (considered a safe Labor seat),

(iv) the ALP recently promised $15 billion dollars for their renewable energy policy, if elected at the next federal election, and

(v) the ALP promised $343 million of funding during the 'super Saturday' by-election campaigns earlier this year, including $25 million alone for an AFL team in Tasmania; and

(b) calls on the ALP to announce their official policy of voluntary buybacks for the residents surrounding the RAAF base at Williamtown who are affected by PFAS contamination before Christmas 2018.