Rockhampton-based Senator Matt Canavan has called on Keppel MP Brittany Lauga to “take her support for Great Keppel Island to Brisbane”.

“Brittany needs to walk the talk to George Street,” Senator Canavan said today. “Here on the Capricorn Coast, Brittany talks up her support for development of Great Keppel Island, including granting a boutique casino licence, but she needs to be saying the same thing in Brisbane, especially inside Parliament House in George Street.
 
“I’m not asking her to resign from the Labor Party. However, she should certainly be prepared to cross the floor of Parliament and vote against the State Government in favour of a boutique gaming licence for GKI.
 
“I have twice crossed the floor in Canberra to vote against my Government’s position on issues where I believed a matter of principle was involved.
 
“Brittany should follow the example of Rob Pyne, the Labor MP who has quit his Labor faction and is threatening not to vote with the Government if the State Government doesn't improve its act.
 
“Is Brittany prepared to stand up for the people of the Capricorn Coast and stand up to her Labor colleagues on the issue of GKI? That’s the real question.”
 
Senator Canavan said Labor had done nothing to support job creation in Central Queensland on a state or national basis.
 
“Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten was in Rocky last week and, under direct questioning, refused to support expansion of Abbot Point and flick-passed on the Eden Bann and Rookwood Weir projects.
 
“Rockhampton MP Bill Byrne has trashed the livelihoods of 50 commercial fishing families by shutting down their net-fishing businesses.
 
“Why won’t the Labor party support job creation in Central Queensland?”