Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Hansard source

In the time I have available, rather than speak from my own point of view and potentially misrepresent some of the mums and dads, as Senator Waters just mentioned, I might just read a comment from a mum and dad, Carolyn and George Plaisted, who emailed me today. They said, 'Hello Matt. We live in the Galilee Basin and are thoroughly sick of the court hold-ups pertaining to the mines in our area. GVK Hancock have had years of litigation to deal with what has held up the commencement of their mines. The small communities are in limbo. We certainly believe in the right for people to have their say, but for the challenges to be ongoing for years is totally ridiculous. The local figurehead for one of the groups objecting does not even have property in GVK's tenement. Hopefully, both state and federal governments can put a halt to this continuing misuse of our courts, and the development of jobs can begin to become a reality.'

This motion is about these people. It is about supporting people like Carolyn and George Plaisted in their communities to help them get ahead and to have jobs and development, like the opportunities that all of us in this place have.