Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Hansard source

Coal-fired power stations have been part of Australia's delivery of the power and energy that all Australians need. Liddell is in the hands of foreign ownership and is due to close down. Hazelwood has been closed down. Over a period of time now, we have seen extensive rises in the cost of electricity, and a lot of businesses are not able to afford to pay for this, neither are the general public, pensioners and small businesses. We need to keep up with the rest of the world.

Opposition senators interjecting—

We are seeing 1,600 coal-fired power stations due to be built or being built around the world in countries such as China, Indonesia, Poland, Japan and Germany—to name some. We need to be progressive—

Opposition senators interjecting—

if we intend to keep our industries and manufacturing here in Australia. We can supply the power needs that we have, otherwise we are going to shut down Australia to the rest of the world.