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

The biggest issue we have in North Queensland—and, indeed, many areas of our country we are seeking to grow and develop—continues to be those that want to run an agenda and don't want to use our resources or develop our country. It is those that are risk averse and have narrow-minded thinking and a view that we shouldn't continue to develop our nation—that we shouldn't build dams, create new mines or help grow our farming sector. Those that have those views are the biggest barrier to job growth in North Queensland and right across regional Australia in particular. Those that haven't supported the Adani Carmichael mine will wear that like a millstone in North Queensland now for years, because they weren't there backing the development of the Galilee Basin when it was crucial and needed. They weren't on the side of North Queensland. They are still not on side. The Labor Party is still not on the side of building dams in North Queensland. They're not partnering with us to get the Big Rocks Weir built and bring thousands of jobs to North Queensland. Until they do, the people of North Queensland know that Labor is not on their side.