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

Go the Goannas! I would like to extend my sympathy today to those employees affected by the decision to close the Gregory Coal Mine in the Central Highlands region of Flynn. Gregory holds special significance for me. I was fortunate enough to have benefitted from its establishment through the fuel distributorship I operated in the early 1980s in Emerald. The mine has been operational since the late seventies.

This mine has been an integral and longstanding feature of the Central Highlands and this closure certainly heralds the end of an era. Every mine has a life expectancy and, unfortunately, market conditions and federal government taxes have meant that the Gregory Mine's time has come.

There is also currently much talk in the resources sector over recent state government actions. I would therefore like to assure both the industry and its employees that, at a federal level, the coalition remains committed to repealing the carbon and mining taxes.

To the affected employees: I wish you every success in finding alternative employment; and to BMA: I trust that your stewardship over these tenements remains responsible and with longevity in mind. Uncertain times calls for certainty in federal government, something we sadly lack at the moment.