George Christensen (Dawson, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I offer my congratulations to the member for Lindsay. I wish her a long and fruitful career and great representation on behalf of her people, and I congratulate her on her maiden speech. On 27 April, on a rainy morning in Mackay, about 700 people gathered on the lawns of the Mackay Regional Council precinct to take a stand against the green lunatic fringe. They did what most of them had never done before—they protested. They were amazed that they had to do this, but they were fed up with the thousands of green lefties and commentators from thousands of kilometres away telling them what jobs they could have, what companies they could do business with and what future they could expect for their children.

Central and North Queenslanders could generally ignore the rants and rubbish flowing from the south; they just got on with their lives. But, when the announcement was made that a former Greens leader and ageing hippie from Tasmania was heading north with a convoy to save us from ourselves, that was the last straw. After disbelief—that people from as far away as Tasmania should be telling North Queenslanders what to do and think—came resolve, and then followed action.

Strangely enough, Bob Brown uttered some resounding words of wisdom, which are written on his website, and they explain exactly what happened when his convoy came to Central Queensland and North Queensland. Bob Brown said:

When people stand up for what they believe in they have unbeatable power.

Yes, Mr Brown was very much right on that point. The people of Central and North Queensland, and indeed across the rest of the state of Queensland, stood up for what they believed in and demonstrated that unbeatable power when they rejected Labor's weasel words on mining and the leanings of the green Left and handed the member for Maribynong a loss in what was being styled as the 'unlosable election' for the Labor Party.

I would like to pay tribute to the economic development group which actually drove that protest to Mackay and to the other leaders in the community who supported its stance. The Resource Industry Network is a not-for-profit industry group which represents the small and medium sized businesses which benefit directly from the resources sector and associated industries. The Resource Industry Network swung into action to stick up for the region, creating a website, www.forthefutureofourregion.org.au. They produced 'Go Galilee' signs, T-shirts and even earrings.

These are some of the words that were shared by our community leaders, as people gathered in the park, in the rain, on the first of two protest days. Resource Industry Network director Mick Crowe said:

We're here for our future. This isn't about whether a coalmine gets built or not. This is a protest about whether our industry has a future or not. We want to be heard. We'll be respectful. It's not about politics—it's about our town and our people.

The mayor of Mackay, Councillor Greg Williamson, said this:

We support democracy. We support everybody who wants to have a voice. But don't come into our patch and say, 'You can't do what supports 60 per cent of your regional economy.

He was joined by the Mackay Region Chamber of Commerce treasurer, Simon Vigliante, who said:

It's one degree of separation between coal and our livelihoods.

Another Mackay Regional Councillor, former Rugby League great and now Green Shirts leader Marty Bella, said:

They come from down south. They don't know us. We create wealth—they use it.

And Mick Crowe, the director of the Resource Industry Network, summed it up when he said:

We need to show Australia we're here, we matter and we need a future. We need to show all the people of Australia and the politicians of Australia that if you won't back our futures we can back you.

He said to the community, 'Help us get a voice.'

Speaking after the second rally, Mick Crow went on to say, 'We're the people who are going to live with the legacy of whether mining gets supported in this state. Are we in great shape as a region because of coal? Absolutely. Will we stay that way? Not if we don't build new mines. The Galilee is the platform that gives us 30 or 40 years. If we don't make that investment, if that doesn't happen, how do we explain the next 30 to 40 years apart from shrinking? It is logical. The world needs it. We're good at it. How do we make it happen?'

The collective voice from this rally, and a second rally held about two weeks later, was: 'Galilee, Galilee, a future for our families.' At about the same time as the green activists were heading north to tell us what to do, a revelation came forth from the Australian Labor Party National Conference about their policies on mining jobs. Labor's plan was a just transition away from mining. Though Labor tried to paint this as some sort of scare campaign, the truth was there in black and white in Labor's policy documents. Labor promised to create a just transition authority, which would, according to their documents, have the power to implement pooled redundancy and redeployment schemes for workers in coal power stations and associated mines. This was referred to in a fact sheet in a media release from the then opposition leader in Labor's National Platform as Labor's uncosted economy-wide climate policy. Labor was making its intention to kill off coal jobs crystal clear. The document specifically listed the Bowen Basin as one of the target areas for their unbelievable hit on the coal sector.

In their climate policy Labor said they would spend $8½ million to establish pooled redundancy schemes for coal miners. How did we get to the point where the Labor Party, the so-called workers' party, wanted taxpayers' money to put people out of a job? We saw one Labor MP after another, including the then deputy leader and the then shadow environment minister use the Adani Carmichael coal project as their whipping boy, which was essentially smashing the coal sector. The member for Port Adelaide said:

I do not support opening new mines in the Galilee Basin, whether it's by Adani, Clive Palmer or anyone else for that matter.

The member for Griffith has been openly against the mine and has been on the record as opposing the Adani Carmichael coal mine for over two years. In 2018, during the abatement by-election, in reference to the Adani project the member for Maribyrnong said:

I don't support it because it doesn't add up commercially and environmentally…

The member for Sydney said:

It doesn't stack up.

And, on coal, the new Deputy Leader of Opposition said:

… I mean the, the, the global market for thermal coal has collapsed and wonderful, that's a good thing, because what that implies is that the world is acting in relation to climate change.

He was asked:

The collapse of thermal coal is a good thing, you said?

His response:

The, the, the global market for thermal coal—because what that implies is that the world is moving to a more renewable energy sources.

The reporter asked him:

… that effects jobs in Australia quite significantly?

He said:

Oh, well it, it, it, it just, what it means is that the, the, the economic case for opening up the Galilee Basin isn't now what it was a decade ago.

Shame. So what does the coal industry mean to the Mackay region? I can tell you that it provides 58 per cent of the region's economy. The Resource Industry Network's For the Future of our Region explains it this way:

FOR OUR BUSINESSES

The region's coal industry is the engine room of the Mackay economy, responsible in 2018 for 43% of economic activity. It's something we simply can't afford to lose!

FOR OUR JOBS

Almost 18,000 direct jobs and support for 58% of Mackay region employment makes it clear that without a thriving coal industry, the only way for regional employment is down.

FOR OUR KIDS

The Mackay region is home to more than 15,000 school-aged children who deserve the same opportunities as their metropolitan counterparts to win skilled, well-paid jobs.

FOR OUR COMMUNITY

Coal mining is the economic glue that holds the Mackay region together, making it the envy of other regional cities and towns who see their people and futures drifting away.

Here are some more fast facts on coalmining and its direct benefits to the Mackay region from the Queensland Resources Council. It means: $1.1 billion in wages; 17,974 full time jobs; $3.4 billion spent locally; 1,810 local businesses paid; and 261 community groups helped, and yet Labor just don't get it. Despite once claiming to be the proud party of the worker, Labor politician after Labor politician bagged the industry, bagged Adani, bagged the Galilee Basin and bagged thermal and metallurgical coalmines. They offered weasel words rather than reassurance to workers in our mining and construction industries, because they had to do deals in innercity seats to save their politicians.

The CFMEU in Queensland had to come out and fight for the jobs of their members in the face of a complete lack of support for their industry from Labor leaders. The CFMEU saw the just transition plan for what it was—a threat to their existence—and they demanded Labor candidates sign a pledge of support for their industry. CFMEU Queensland president, Stephen Smyth, led the charge. They put up a motion that stated:

We will request a pledge from them … if you want support for us, you pledge your support for the coal industry.

He further added:

If we have to, we will campaign against those MPs no matter which party they're in. Even if they're perched up in the little cosy suburbs somewhere in the southeast drinking their lattes.

He spoke of the angst of coalminers:

We watch proud men and women caring for their families that are reduced to sitting by and watching their futures be decided in the political/media arena. As families struggle through, purchasing their homes, educating their children and preparing their retirements, they always have to watch their pride and ability to care for their partners and children wain as the challenge of 'just transition' looms.

I had at pre-polling a CFMEU member in a hat and hi-viz union shirt walk up to me—on none other than Labour Day—shake my hand, take my card and say, 'You're the one I'm backing, Mate.' He even jumped in a photo for Facebook for me. Another union member turned up with his lifetime union membership card—CFMEU again. He also showed me an old wallet he was carrying. It had his mother and father's lifetime Labor Party membership in it. He said, 'Because of all this, for the first time in my life, probably in generations in my family, I will not be voting for the Labor Party; I'll be voting for you.' He brought it in to whisper sorry to them before he cast his vote.

There are other issues that kept people in my electorate awake at night when they contemplated the prospect of a Shorten Labor government: the retiree tax, the housing tax, the electricity tax in the form of a new carbon emissions policy, weak borders, siding with the state Labor government in their attack on farmers through the tree-clearing legislation that was going to be taken federally, and the state Labor government's new so-called sustainability regulations on commercial fishermen. These are really the most unsustainable laws you could ever see. They reduce some commercial fishermen's catch by 80 per cent. That's not sustainability; that's a shutdown of an industry.

I doubt that we've ever seen such an amazing array of bad laws, and Labor wanted to introduce more at the same time. It galvanised people into action. I had big attendances at a range of meetings that I held with groups that were very worried about their future, a future potentially under a Shorten Labor government. Truckies once again turned up in numbers concerned about the return of the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal. Property developers and real estate agents gathered in my office and elsewhere. They were worried about the prospect of Labor's negative gearing policy. They saw it as a tax on the housing sector. Canefarmers, cattlemen and fishermen all gathered, battling the state Labor government, as I said, on the so-called sustainability reef laws and vegetation management laws—laws that Labor was talking about amplifying in the federal sphere. One businesswoman in Mackay, a financial planner who is about to retire, walked into my office one day and asked what she could do to help. She couldn't stand the thought of a Shorten Labor government. Many others of all ages and all walks of life stepped up to help in all sorts of ways, some putting in long hours.

There are many people I want to thank who helped during the election campaign. I particularly mention the following: Margie McLean, a saint; Leanne Fordyce, another saint; Ari Oliver; Chris Bonanno; Nicole Batzloff; Laurie Pinder; Frank and Margaret Cover; Lawrie Neilsen; Robyn Hall; Colin Hofmeier; Terry and Dulcie Dennis; Richard Wallace; Graeme and Lyn Downing; David Caracciolo; Jack McLean; Greg Porter; Alan Gascoyne; and John Cotter. In the Whitsundays there were people like Shane Newell, Stan Wright, Sophie and Lawson Camm, Helen Loft, Di Dobbins, Olga Dufty, Ailsa and Frank Reinke.

In Bowen, I want to thank Ian and Pauline Shields, Bruce Hedditch, Helena Hedditch and Bob Harris; further north, the newly minted Senator Susan McDonald, Julian Tomlinson, Peter Lindsay, Richard Stower, Rhonda Braithwaite, John Honeycombe, Rob Town, Joe and Mary Moore, Neville Dickinson, Nelvy Dickinson, Jim and Jill Gist, Ray and Rosemary Menkins, Alan Parker, David Cox, Richard Bonato, Tom and Jan Callow; and my dedicated staff—Lynnis Bonanno, Shelley Argent, Megan Kerr, Lauren Ballard and some that have now left and some that came on temporarily just before the election, including Aaron or 'AJ' Stebbens and Damien Tessmann and a long-serving staff member of mine who gave it his all but has since left the employment in my office, Dave Westman—I want to thank him very much for his tireless support over the years and his ongoing support.

I also want to commend Michelle Landry, the member for Capricornia's, staff on their strong support obviously—with Dawson and Capricornia bordering each other—Jack McDougall, Dana, Anna Howard and Nicole Neale.

I want to pay particular tribute to Senator Matt Canavan and his strong support across the north. I was also happy to push for and see the delivery of funding for a range of projects over the past year. We've seen everything from a small boost to furnish and air condition a CWA house in Seaforth through to the massive bridge building project on the Haughton River between Ayr and Townsville.

In Mackay we're contributing $6.5 million to the Northern Beaches Community Hub in the fastest growing area of our city. We're putting $300,000 into providing seating at the Mackay Crater, the home of basketball in the city. Just under $4 million will go towards the construction of a 20-bed drug rehabilitation centre and $1.3 million is going towards the upgrade of boat ramps and recreational fishing facilities. We're providing $490,000 for lighting at Brothers Townsville Football Club, just under $200,000 for lights at Dolphins Football Club in Bucasia grounds and $80,000 is going to the Mackay Regional Social Development Coalition to teach leadership training and financial management to grassroots community groups.

In the Whitsundays we're putting $5 million into repairing the Proserpine Entertainment Centre, which was smashed during Cyclone Debbie.    We're investing $2.5 million towards a maritime training centre so young men and women can do more of their training in the area where they're needed. We're providing $75,000 to help Libby Edge and her Eco Barge Clean Seas operation clean up marine debris and rehabilitate turtles. We're providing headspace services in the Whitsundays so vulnerable young people and their families can get more ready access to help, and in April's budget we announced almost $30 million to address flooding at Hamilton Plains on Shute Harbour Road.

We are also helping with sporting facilities in the Whitsundays: an extra $2.1 million for the Whitsunday Sports Park; $200,000 for a synthetic bowling green at Cape Gloucester; $480,000 for lighting upgrades at the Whitsunday Moto Sports Club. A project which will benefit the entire region is the construction of Urannah Dam. We've put $10 million forward to progress that project to get it shovel-ready. Urannah has the potential to create up to 20,000 hectares of new farming land adjacent to Bowen and Collinsville.

Also in Bowen we're investing $5 million so that the Bowen Hospital can purchase a CT scanner and associated refurbishments while almost $900,000 has been committed to the Molongle Creek Boat Club upgrade. In the Burdekin, work has begun on the Haughton River floodplain upgrade and bridge replacement. This is a half-billion-dollar project which will provide flood immunity along a near 14-kilometre stretch of the Bruce Highway as well as replace the narrow and dangerous bridge that has no side rails. At Giru, the day care centre will receive $35,000 to help with their recovery from the recent floods.

In Townsville, $195 million will go towards stage 2 of the water security pipeline. Almost $500,000 is going towards Townsville Basketball for upgrades and additions and $5 million will go to stage 2 of The Oasis Townsville, a veteran's wellness centre and support hub for veterans and ex-ADF personnel.

In the April budget, we announced $144 million for Townsville Ring Road Stage 5, which will provide four lanes of the final six-kilometre stretch of this road link. The Townsville Turf Club has also received a helping hand with just under $200,000 going towards the upgrade of their female jockey facilities.

As we look to the future, one thing that I am very much focused on is securing a regional deal for the Mackay Isaac Whitsunday region. This was my commitment to the people of Dawson ahead of the election, and I have been working with the region's mayors—Greg Williamson, Andrew Wilcox and Anne Baker—to put together the details of an agreed plan of transformational projects for our region. They are projects that will futureproof our region, projects that will actually ensure a continuation of profitability and sustainability in existing industries in our region. As we perhaps move towards more automation in mining, we want to see work on that done in our region, not in a capital city and certainly not in another country; we want to see it in our region. We have opportunities to diversify in our agricultural sector, to provide more profitability to farmers. We also see the ability to transform our region altogether into a new tourist sector, whether it be more land based tourism opportunities in the Whitsundays or making Mackay a destination in its own right rather than a gateway to the Whitsundays and the islands. These are things that I'm going to be pursuing in my real action as the member for Dawson.

I thank all of those who cast their vote for me so strongly and carrying every single booth across the electorate. It's an honour and a privilege to serve the people of Dawson. Thank you very much.

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