Madeleine King (Brand, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Northern Australia) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for her question on this occasion. I refer to the member's question. I would just like to point out the importance of Australia's role in regional energy security. This is something that is perhaps not as well understood as it could be or even should be. Australia indeed does export gas, and it does export coal. It also exports iron ore. It exports gold. It exports lithium. It exports a great many things that are essential to our economy, and indeed the three greatest exports of this country are iron ore, coal and gas, which add to harbour prosperity and support regional communities, which people on this side of the chamber realise, as do those on the other side.

It will remain integral to the economy for many years to come, and it will remain very important to hundreds of thousands of families around this country, as the breadwinners and sometimes their partners go and participate in this industry, whether it be in fly-in, fly-out communities or drive-in, drive-out communities, right around the country. Really importantly, and the question around energy—

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