Ian Macfarlane (Groom, Liberal Party, Minister for Industry) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member the Durack for her question and thank her for the enormous work she does for the resources industry, not only in the state of Western Australia and particularly in the seat of Durack but in fact for all Australia. The member has done a fantastic job in taking over from the previous member, Barry Haase, in bringing mining companies to this place to allow members on the backbench in particular, who may not have a mine in their backyard, to see the importance of mining in Australia.

I recommend to the member for Swan—the member for Lilley, sorry—that he actually reconsider the continuous attack that he placed on the mining industry when he was the Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer. There were attacks on individuals and attacks on the industry, an industry which the Acting Prime Minister just pointed out employs around a million people directly and indirectly. It is an industry which kept Mr Swan's budget afloat—as best as any budget under Labor could be kept afloat—by continuing to earn much-needed export income for Australia.

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