A mining magnate and former fish and chips shop owner will support future development of the coal industry, if elected to the Senate on May 18.
United Australia Party Senate candidate Clive Palmer and One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson both showed their strongest support for Central Queensland’s coal sector during their campaign in Clermont on April 27.
“Without coal, we are in the stone age … coal is Queensland’s biggest export and the backbone of the economy,’’ Palmer said in a public statement. “It is our cheapest form of power and is the basis of the manufacturing industry across Australia.”
Palmer is proposing that Australia become a new resource processing hub to attract higher commodity prices that are comparable to what Japan charges for reselling Australian coal it has processed.
“Processing Queensland and Australian resources at home will create jobs, increase exports and provide a higher standard of living,’’ he said. “Japan has become the world’s third largest economy by processing Australian resources. Japan suffers from the tyranny of distance and wages are also higher, yet Australia sells its coal at a low price per tonne and Japan sells final products for hugely increased costs.”
He asked the anti-mining convoy supported by the Get Up movement to leave the Sunshine State.
“It’s time to tell Get Up to get out of Queensland,’’ he said.
Hanson (pictured with fellow One Nation candidate Malcolm Roberts) also asked the anti-mining convoy to leave Queensland.
“Go back to where you came from,” she said in a public statement.
She invited all political parties standing for election to give their full support to Australian miners.
“They should join with us in calling out these ratbags who want to ban coal mining and tell them to show some compassion by supporting industries that lift many Australians out of poverty by creating jobs,” she said.
Hanson warned left-wing protests like the Stop Adani convoy are hypocritically promoting a pro-mining and pro-jobs message while, at the same time, undermining the industry.
“The way these protesters are treating hard working Aussies is disgusting,” she said. “Thanks to coal royalties, jobs and taxation, all Queenslanders have the benefit of reliable electricity, bitumen roads, proper medical services, quality education, public transport, the list goes on. We cannot rip that way from people.”
“We want regional towns and communities to thrive and they can only do that off the back of projects like the Carmichael [Coal] Mine,” she added.
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