Labor Party campaigns on mining credentials to win Queensland heartland

Labor campaigns on “sending a coal miner to Canberra” as it spruiks policies to cut emissions.

Bill Shorten and Russell Robertson in Rockhampton.

Labor has embarked on a full-throated embrace of coal in key seats in central Queensland as it fights for Coalition-held seats of Capricornia and Flynn and attempts to hold off a Liberal party onslaught in Herbert.

Labor candidate for Capricornia Russell Robertson proclaims himself a “third generation miner” and his campaign posters around the electorate boast of his mining credentials.

Russell Robertson’s campaign poster in Capricornia.

“If you care about coal mining,” reads Mr Robertson’s poster, “send a coal miner to Canberra.”

The move comes amid rising anger in central Queensland over the state government’s failure to approve the Adani coal mine by placing new environmental hurdles in its path. The Adani issue has also put Bill Shorten under pressure on the campaign trail on the future of the mine.

Mr Robertson’s poster is complete with him in a mining helmet and high-vis tshirt.

Capricornia is currently held by coalition MP Michelle Landry. Ms Landry won the seat with a wafer-thin margin of 0.6 per cent.

The CFMMEU has backed Labor’s coal campaign in central Queensland, sending out texts to voters in the electorate advertising Mr Robertson’s mining background.

As a coal miner, I’ve seen the effects of casualisation first-hand. Way too many people in CQ are working the equivalent...

Posted by Russell Robertson - Labor for Capricornia on Sunday, 14 April 2019

“Labor announces the approval of the Oliver Downs coal mine. 1500 new jobs for Central QLD with local recruitment as a top priority. Labor is delivering on coal. Send a coal miner to Canberra Vote 1 Russell Robertson,” a text reads.

Labor’s embrace of coal in Queensland marginal seats comes as it campaigns in critical seats in NSW and Victoria on efforts to fight climate change, promote renewable energy and phase out coal fired power stations.

The electorate of Flynn is held by coalition MP Ken O’Dowd with a margin of just 1 per cent.