Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Minister for Resources and Northern Australia) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator O'Sullivan for his question and his long interest in developing the resources of Queensland, including our world-class coal resources. Many Queenslanders support Senator O'Sullivan and me in our quest to get these resources developed so we can provide jobs and income for the Queensland people.

Senator Williams interjecting—

Yes, Senator Williams—through you, Mr President—including a former CFMEU delegate and Labor Party candidate at the last state election, Michael Brunker. He's standing up for his people, one of the few Queensland Labor people standing up for his people. He said this morning:

To win one seat in frickin Melbourne, they have wiped out their chances of two or three seats here in the coal belt.

…   …   …

I'm an old unionist too … I grew up in the mines … for her—

that is, Ged Kearney—

to sit there in Melbourne and basically wipe us, to forget about the guys in the mining industry, it's just disgraceful.

That is from the words of a Labor candidate at the Queensland election just months ago. He knows the Labor Party have now forgotten them. They are seeking to wipe them out just to win a seat in Melbourne. Jim Pearce, also a former CFMEU delegate and a state member of parliament for the Australian Labor Party, said:

There is strong support for the mine—

that is, the Carmichael mine—

going ahead in this region and I think anybody relying on support from that area would be fooling themselves if they go against the mine.

But that is what the Australian Labor Party want to do now. They are going against the interests of Queensland to line up in Batman.

The Leader of the Opposition, Mr Bill Shorten, said yesterday these are all fake jobs—they're fake jobs, right? Well, actually these are real jobs in North and Central Queensland, and the only thing coming out of the Leader of the Opposition's mouth is fake news, because he's a fake leader who can't stand up to the left faction in his party. He is no longer a leader, because he is just following the tune of the Greens in Melbourne to try and win votes there while he forgets about and wipes out the people of North Queensland.