Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker, and I thank the honourable member for her question. The honourable member would understand what a great outcome it has been for Australian resources, and especially for agricultural resources, that of the percentage point contribution to year-on-year GDP growth of 1.8 per cent, the largest was agriculture. Agriculture has been the standout industry. In fact, under this government we've completely turned around the agricultural outcome of our nation, and that's providing jobs in Rockhampton, in the Fitzroy basin and it's supporting the jobs of the meatworkers.

It's a shame that some would see it as an opportunity to walk away or walk out, but it is also very important for what we are doing in the mining industry. We stand behind the mining industry; we stand behind the coal industry. We believe in labourers; we believe in people who work for a living. This is vitally important. Today we have seen a clear example of where the Labor Party resides as far as coal workers and the coal industry go. The member for Hunter was elbowed out of the way, then he was ruled out, and then the member for Shortland was thrown out. They do not believe in supporting the coal industry; they do not believe in the power industry. They do not come in here and stand up for labourers in this country. They do not stand up for the industry of this nation; they do not have the ticker anymore to stand behind what used to be their constituency. The member for Herbert does not stand behind the coalworkers; The member for Shortland will not stand up for coalworkers; the member for Hunter will not stand up for coalworkers. They've thrown the towel in for workers. The member for Newcastle has refused to go in to bat for coalworkers. They refuse to stand by them. We now see what is happening to power. Under their policy we will see the fiasco of South Australia become the fiasco of Melbourne and Sydney. We will see under their power policy that—

Mr Rob Mitchell interjecting—

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