MEDIA RELEASE
24 March 2026
Patriotism Starts with Backing Our Miners
Federal Member for Herbert, Phillip Thompson OAM, has slammed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for lecturing Australian miners on “patriotism” after years of Labor attacking the very industry that keeps regional Australia strong.
Mr Thompson said the Prime Minister’s comments were deeply hypocritical, coming from a government that has spent years prioritising renewables at any cost while burdening mining and resources projects with uncertainty, red tape and ideological attacks.
“Australian miners do not need a lecture on patriotism from Anthony Albanese,” Mr Thompson said.
“These are the men and women who have built our nation, kept regional communities alive, powered our economy and delivered billions in export revenue, royalties and tax.”
Mr Thompson said Labor had spent years “punching down” on the mining sector while expecting it to step up whenever Australia’s economic or energy security was under pressure.
“This is a government that talks down coal, undermines gas and heaps pressure on our resources sector, then suddenly wants miners to save the day when global supply chains tighten,” he said.
“It’s condescending, it’s out of touch, and regional Australians can see straight through it.”
Mr Thompson reaffirmed his long-standing support for the resources sector, including his public backing of the Adani project from day one.
“I backed Adani from day one because I back jobs, I back affordable energy, and I back the workers and families who rely on our resources sector,” Mr Thompson said.
“While Labor was trying to appease inner-city activists, I stood with North Queenslanders who understood exactly what projects like Adani mean for our future.”
Mr Thompson said Australia’s resources sector remains a national asset and must be supported, not undermined.
“If Anthony Albanese is serious about patriotism, he can start by respecting the workers in high-vis who already live it every single day,” he said.
“Stop attacking coal. Stop undermining gas. Stop burdening miners with red tape. Back our resources sector and back regional Australia.”
ENDS