Ken O'Dowd (Flynn, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The attack on coal fired power stations and the attack on coalmines has left many in my electorate of Flynn asking why. Let me remind the rest of Australia that the coal industry is vital to the Australian economy, especially in Central Queensland. Coal is Australia's second largest export and makes a valuable contribution to my electorate. Coal contributed $40 billion to the national income in 2013-14. It will contribute $47 billion a year by 2019-20. The coal industry directly contributed more than $4 billion to my electorate in 2013-14.

Coal is supporting families in Central Queensland. Coal accounts for nearly 3,500 full-time workers in Flynn. In 2013-14, they were paid $418 million in wages. Coal also adds $1.9 billion to the profits of nearly 1,000 local businesses through the purchase of goods and services. There are also flow-on contributions, including $2 billion to support more than 63,000 full-time employees in Flynn.

The industry paid $3.1 billion in royalties in the last financial year, including $1.8 billion to the Queensland government. Over the next four years, black coal royalties will total $18.1 billion, including $11.3 billion to Queensland. Banks continue to support new and existing projects. (Time expired)