John Howard (Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

Labor is anti the coal industry. Labor wants to cripple the Australian coal industry. If you double the MRETs or, worse than that, quadruple them, you are going to put a drain on Australian industry. You are going to make Australian industry less competitive, and that is going to hurt, not assist, the coal industry.

If I were the member who asked me the question, I would be getting up in caucus tomorrow and asking the Leader of the Opposition to disavow the anti coal sentiment of the member for Grayndler and to embrace the skilful, intelligent, far-sighted views of the member for Batman. He speaks common sense on these issues. He speaks for Australia’s future. The rest of his party represent Australia’s past. Mr Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.

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