QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator CANAVAN (Queensland—Nationals Whip in the Senate) (17:10): Minister, the thermal coal that Tomago relied upon to power its smelter is the best and cleanest coal in the world—in the Hunter Valley. Near Tomago is Newcastle. It's the world's biggest coal port, from which we send that coal to the world, including to China, who produces 60 per cent of the world's aluminium.

Minister, why is it okay for us to send Australian coal to China to create aluminium jobs there but not okay for us to use Australian coal here to create Australian jobs in our country?