Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Tourism and International Education) Share this | Hansard source

The inference by the Labor Party is that the comment by Deputy Prime Minister Joyce is in fact a reflection on the approval process of the Shenhua Watermark coalmine. That approval has been given. So the inference that is being made by the Labor Party actually cannot stand. As I said, the Deputy Prime Minister was making a point; giving an opinion about mines in his electorate at a particular point in time, as he is entitled to do as the local member. The inferences that are being made now by the Labor Party are a political construct, quite frankly. Having had the opportunity to read the statements by the Deputy Prime Minister, that is exactly what they are; they are a statement of how he saw things at a particular point in time and nothing more, and not a reflection on anything else.

Question agreed to.