‘Resources-friendly’ Labor aims to win over the regions

The Albanese government would support the export of coal for ‘as long as there is a market for it’, says Labor’s new Queensland resources sector spokesman.

Senator Murray Watt. Picture: Jerad Williams

Labor’s new spokesman for the Queensland resources sector, Murray Watt, says an Albanese government would support the export of coal for “as long as there is a market for it” as the Left faction senator vows to improve the party’s standing with mining communities.

Senator Watt told The Australian his newly created role in last week’s reshuffle “shows that Albo gets the significance of the resources industry in Queensland”, as Antony Albanese lists eight Queensland seats he is targeting at the next election.

“It is definitely a sign of support for the industry from Albo,” Senator Watt said. “I’m intending to use the role to reinforce what we have been saying … jobs in resources are secure under Labor. We want to make sure we seize jobs in our existing resources industry but also capture new jobs in renewables.”

In an interview with Nine newspapers at the weekend, the Opposition Leader said he was targeting eight seats in Queensland on top of holding the six Labor won at the last election. This includes four seats in central and north Queensland where there were massive swings against Labor in 2019: Herbert, Flynn, Capricornia and Leichhardt.

Mr Albanese also believes Labor can win the suburban electorates of Longman, Petrie, Forde and Brisbane.

Labor frontbencher Shayne Neumann, who represents the party’s sole regional Queensland seat of Blair, said “the pathway to victory is through Queensland”.

“We won them in 2007 so it is possible for us to win … But there are a whole bunch of things we need to do: jobs, infrastructure projects and unequivocal support for the mining sector,” he said,

“If you want to win seats in the regions in Queensland, you do what the Palaszczuk government did, you support the mining sector.”

Right faction Queensland senator Anthony Chisholm said the centrepiece of Mr Albanese’s push should be on-the-ground visits, noting that was difficult last year because of the pandemic. “One of the frustrations of last year was Albo’s inability to spend much time in Queensland,” Senator Chisholm said.

“That needs to be the centrepiece of it, visits from Albo focusing on issues that matter to people. That will be an opportunity for people to get to know him better. There is no substitute for that in regional Queensland.”