Brendan O'Connor (Gorton, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Industrial Relations) Share this | Hansard source

With the very few seconds remaining I would like to commence my contribution to the debate on Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2006-2007 and Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2006-2007. The previous speaker made some comments about the remarks made by the member for Kingsford Smith. It is not true to say that Labor does not support the coal industry. In fact, what you have had without qualification from the Leader of the Opposition in the last two days has been entire support for the coal industry, the miners, the investors and the miners’ families. Labor does support the coal industry; in fact, it has a great history of support for that industry. We should not listen too closely to the words of the previous speaker. I think he is trying to make a point that, whilst heartfelt, is inaccurate and clearly has a self-serving purpose. It is not accurate insofar as being the position of Labor in relation to the coalmining industry.

Debate interrupted.

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