Bob Katter (Kennedy, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Galilee Basin has been on hold for 10 years.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

To whom is the question?

Bob Katter (Kennedy, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

For its coal to be mined, unit haulage costs require over 120 million tonnes to be carried each year on a single rail line.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Kennedy can start again, and he can begin by saying to whom the question is addressed.

Bob Katter (Kennedy, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My apologies, Madam Speaker. My question is to the Prime Minister. The Galilee Basin has been on hold for 10 years. For its coal to be mined, unit haulage costs require over 120 million tonnes to be carried each year on a single rail line. Would not government guaranteed development bonds provide confidence, security and multiuser status? If such were only conditional upon miners investing at high hurt levels, surely mining would happen. Would the PM's dialogue with Queensland have already given the jobs to 457s and the rail line to GVK to China first to make mining as darned near, reportedly, as Santa Claus and the abominable snowman? (Time expired)

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I call the honourable the Prime Minister. He may ignore the abominable snowman.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do thank the member for Kennedy for his question. Like other Queensland members, particularly members from North Queensland, such as the member for Leichardt, the member for Capricornia, the member for Maranoa, the member for Flynn, the member for Herbert and the member for Dawson—there is an absolute litany of them; in fact, all of the North Queensland members put their hands up, please—all of them want to see the mining sector flourish, and all of them want to see infrastructure improve.

Mrs Griggs interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Solomon will desist.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will tell you what the government are doing to help the mining sector to flourish: we are scrapping the carbon tax and we are scrapping the mining tax. We do not treat coal as a pariah, as members opposite, thanks to their alliance with the Greens, are doing. The Greens are telling members opposite to treat coal as a pariah. This government will never treat coal as a pariah industry. We want it to expand. We want employment and investment in the coal industry to expand. That is why we want to scrap the carbon tax and scrap the mining tax. If members opposite were serious about giving the coal industry a future, they too would vote to terminate the carbon tax.

The other thing we want to do is boost our infrastructure.

Ms MacTiernan interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Perth, I would remind, there is a general warning in place.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am thrilled to say, as the infrastructure Prime Minister, that in this budget some $50 billion in Commonwealth money is committed to infrastructure of the 21st century, including freight rail. This is the biggest infrastructure spend in Commonwealth history, in this budget. We are doing everything we reasonably can to boost the coal industry of North Queensland and to boost the infrastructure of North Queensland.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister will resume his seat. The member for Kennedy, on a point of order?

Bob Katter (Kennedy, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I love what the Prime Minister is saying, but we want that infrastructure for the coalmining industry. We will give you a profit.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is no point of order. The member for Kennedy will resume his seat. The Prime Minister has the call. The Prime Minister has concluded his answer.