Gavin Pearce (Braddon, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Health, Aged Care and Indigenous Health Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In Queenstown, on Tasmania's rugged West Coast, they're so tough they play footy on gravel, not grass. The football ground is actually gravel. It has a reputation of being the most feared ground in Australia—the home of the mighty Queenstown Crows. This year, the Crows raised the trophy at the Darwin Football Association 2024 premiers. Unless you live in the bush, unless you live in that region, you can't comprehend how important our sporting clubs are to our valuable communities, and you wouldn't know that often these communities rely on just one or two industries to keep them going. If they lose one, it's simply devastating. That's what's happening on the West Coast, because the Albanese government refuses to support the two key industries in their region—mining and agriculture. Since day one, Labor has refused to make a decision on MMG's tailing facility at South Marionoak. They've done everything they can to shut down Macquarie Harbour and the agricultural industry. I promise the West Coast that a Liberal government will do whatever it takes to ensure the ongoing viabilities of these two valuable industries because, unlike Labor, we get what communities need. We understand how important they are. Welcome to those from Keep the Sheep up there in the gallery. Out of my Burnie Port, 843,000 fat lambs are sent live to Victoria each year. Well done on your efforts today—it's good to see you.