Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Minister for Resources and Northern Australia) Share this | Hansard source

There has been a lot of active and passionate commentary, and I respect people with different views in this debate. Can I say that upfront.

Senator McKenzie interjecting—

I will take the interjection from Senator McKenzie, because we have seen a different point of view today in the Senate chamber from a group that do not respect views that are opposed to their own. They preach diversity and they preach that they are not prejudiced, but we just saw the most prejudiced, ill-informed bile from the leader of the Greens party today. When it comes to a company from another country, because it is doing a project he does not like, he jumps to conclusions. He has no evidence at all to bring to the debate, but he is acting in the most prejudiced and non-diverse way possible for a senator. What I would ask of those that oppose this mine is to please listen to the people of North Queensland. Please listen to the people that might have a different view to you, have an open mind, engage in the discussion and realise that we can have a strong economy and protect the environment as well. We can have thousands of jobs and protect our Great Barrier Reef as well.