Craig Kelly (Hughes, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The author Charles Mackay in his book Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds noted that men go mad in herds, while they only recover their senses slowly, one at a time. Therefore, I am very proud to announce to the House that the parliamentary friends of Australian coal exports now has four members from the opposition, including the member for Hunter. I hope, as time goes on, more and more will come to their senses. After all, our coal industry contributes more to taxpayer funds than any other industry in our nation. So, if you are in favour of more spending for Australian hospitals, if you are in favour of listing more goods on the PBS, if you are in favour of more spending on education and more infrastructure for this nation, you must also therefore be in favour of, and support, Australian coal exports. State governments obtain something like $6,000 million in royalties from coal exports, not to mention the many billions that the federal government obtains. It's a good start—four members from the opposition. Let's hope, as time goes by, we can get close to at least 97 per cent.