BY ISABEL EVERETT
Federal Nationals MP'S are continuing their three day tour of the Hunter, after arriving in the region on Monday.
Senator Matt Canavan is being joined by Senators Bridget McKenzie and and Perin Davey, touring the Port of Newcastle on Monday followed by a meat works and the Rix's Creek Coal Mine in the Hunter Valley on Tuesday.
Senator Canavan says the Hunter's coal industry needs a 'growth' plan not a 'transition' plan.
"Any credible political representative for this region has to have a growth plan for coal jobs in the Hunter. We've got a plan for the Hunter for more jobs, not just different jobs, and that's the big difference between us and the Labor party here."
Senator Canavan says the Hunter's coal industry needs a 'growth' plan not a 'transition' plan.
"Any credible political representative for this region has to have a growth plan for coal jobs in the Hunter. We've got a plan for the Hunter for more jobs, not just different jobs, and that's the big difference between us and the Labor party here."
"Just a report out today from the office of the chief economist in the Australian Government shows in the next five years they're predicting growth in thermal coal exports from Australia, about a ten percent growth."
"There is a hungry demand for our coal and we should try to meet that, because the more we mine the best quality coal here in the Hunter the better it'll be for the world."
Senator Davey denied the Nationals Party had previously failed to take much notice of the Hunter electorate.
"Win or lose the seat of Hunter, our Government believes in the industries and the economy of the Hunter. We're not Johnny-come-lately in this region at all, we've always had a crack, hopefully next time the voters will actually give us a chance to represent you."
Senator Canavan said they'd like to see an office of regional manufacturing set up in Newcastle as part of their National Manufacturing Plan.
"This is one of the prime centres of manufacturing in this country," Senator Canavan said.
"We should retain what we've got up at Tomago at the Aluminum Smelter, and build more manufacturing because we cannot rely on the rest of the world to make everything in this country especially as conflict and difficulties look like they're on the horizon in our region."
Senators Matt Canavan, Perin Davey and Bridget McKenzie
