Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Minister for Resources and Northern Australia) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr President. As I was saying, our coal industry contributes $34 billion in exports to our economy. It is the second largest export in our country, and, while those exports are very important, we should also seek to consider to use those resources in our nation to create good, high-paying jobs for Australians. Coal does not get clean on the boat. If it is clean to be used overseas, it is clean to be used here, and we should be taking advantage of that resource to develop our industry and our manufacturing sector. As we develop the coal resources of the Galilee Basin, they amount to an enormous opportunity to build on the strong metals manufacturing industry we have in North Queensland. We have the minerals and the low-cost energy sources and we should be smart enough as a nation to harness them to create jobs for Australians.