Barnaby Joyce (Queensland, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr Deputy President. So it is even the TWU. We have not heard you standing up for the people of Queensland. This is the issue as we go forward with this ridiculous concept in the middle of a financial crisis. This will affect the people of North Queensland, of Mackay. I have said to the people of Mackay: who is standing up for the people of Mackay today? Who is standing up for the coal workers today in Emerald? Who is standing up for the workers in Gladstone today? Who is standing up for the workers of Queensland—the working families—today? It is strange that it is the LNP that is standing up for the working families today. The LNP are standing up for working families today, and that is why, as we go towards this state election, there should be a clear message sent to the voters: are you voting for your job? Are you voting to keep your job or are you going to sacrifice your job at the altar of the ETS, some bizarre concept of no effect, a political gesture? The substance of the science is as peculiar as the white paper itself.

What is the way they can make a statement? Well, the statement is quite clear. If you believe that it is time to turn the pendulum around, if you believe it is time to make a statement of sanity, then make a statement at the ballot box next weekend. Next weekend is the time to send a clear message back to the Prime Minister—as he calls himself, Kevin from Queensland—that we will not be held to ransom—