Barnaby Joyce (Queensland, National Party, Leader of The Nationals in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

Kevin is close. Kevin is getting very close. I do not want to say much but the number nine comes to mind when I think about Kevin—and this is going to be yet another fiasco. But let us have a look at this inquiry and transparency. Where has it gone as far as regional Australia is concerned? Where is the inquiry as to regional Australia on this? We have got an inquiry in Sydney, we have got an inquiry in Melbourne and we have got one in Canberra—and I hope they are not saying that is regional Australia—but what has happened to regional Australia? What has happened to those fighters for regional Australia, Mr Oakeshott and Mr Windsor? Where is the inquiry that they got to take this piece of legislation out to the country, to the epicentre of the effect of this tax? But, no, we cannot go there because there will be dragons out there so don't go there! It is like the margin analysis on old maritime maps, saying 'don't go there, don't talk to the people of Tamworth and don't dare talk to the people of Orange, and don't go talking to the people of Longreach, but talk to the people of Melbourne; talk to the beautiful people. Have them come in. Make it nice and quiet and sedate because we've just got to get this through because Bob's got to go to Durban'.

So, when we think about regional Australia, we should think of the source of the wealth of this nation: the area where the coalmines are, the area where the iron-ore mines are, the area where the cotton fields are, the area where the wheat fields are and the area where many of the tourism venues are—the area that is going to get absolutely smacked between the eyes if this tax goes through. That is not an ambit claim. That is the result of some of the inquiries that have been made by state Labor governments when those governments have been more honest than the federal government on this issue and have talked about the epicentre of effect—the towns of Rockhampton, Gladstone and other places that are going to be hit with this, as will the Hunter Valley. So I say to Kirsten Livermore: you went to your people and gave a warrant that you would not be a part of a carbon tax. Well, Kirsten Livermore, you have misrepresented it; you have told an untruth to the people of Rockhampton. To Joel Fitzgibbon and Sharon Grierson in the Hunter Valley: you have told an untruth to the people of the Hunter Valley —