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

This project is widely supported by the people of Queensland. There are people from all different backgrounds who support this project. Indeed, there's a bloke called Senator Murray Watt who in October 2016 said that state and federal Labor have always supported jobs in mining. Well, up until that date perhaps they had. He went on to say, 'We also support the Adani mining project,'—Senator Watt, thank you for your support for the Adani mining project—'provided it meets environmental requirements'. He went on to say, 'This is a massive project and it's got the potential to create thousands of jobs, which will be fantastic for regional Queensland'. Mr Shorten hasn't been talking to Senator Watt for a while, or if he has he hasn't had much influence. Senator Chisholm, as well, said, 'The only people who lose in this'—this was while the native title laws were being debated last year—'are the people of Central and North Queensland, who are looking to this vital project as an economic opportunity for our region.' Why don't these guys stand up now and back their words with action?