Susan McDonald Queensland, National Party
12:54 pm
I ask that the name of Senator Amanda Stoker be added to this motion. I, and also on behalf of Senators McGrath and Stoker, move:
That the Senate supports the development of the Carmichael Mine project and the opening of the Galilee Basin.
Jonathon Duniam Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries
I seek leave to make a short statement.
Jonathon Duniam Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries
The government supports this motion and continues to support the opening of the Galilee Basin and the thousands of jobs it will deliver for Central and Northern Queensland.
Larissa Waters Queensland, Australian Greens
) ( ): I seek leave to make a short statement.
Larissa Waters Queensland, Australian Greens
The Greens will not be supporting this motion, because the Carmichael mine is not the way to deliver jobs for regional Queensland. What it will deliver is more support to a tax-dodging multinational coal company who have said that they want to automate this project from pit to port, so more robots. And if there are any workers then they'll be suffering from black lung disease, which is back in Queensland, as you well know, and is starting to kill coalmining workers. That's not to mention the fact that half of the reef has already been killed from climate change, which is driven and turbocharged by coal.
We can have jobs in the regions, we can have prosperity, we can keep the lights on and we can save the planet if we actually fund renewable energy projects rather than coal projects. It is disappointing to see this old drum being banged by a party that purports to represent farmers, who are having their livelihoods and their water trashed by fossil fuels.
Malcolm Roberts Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party
12:55 pm
I seek leave to make a statement.
Malcolm Roberts Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party
I am appalled that the Greens would take this opportunity to deride the coalminers of Queensland, New South Wales and, indeed, the world. Black lung is a function of poor management, not a function of coal. We need to make sure that the truth is being told in this chamber, because black lung will only be eradicated again if the truth is told and the science is followed.