Gray said calls for a moratorium on new coal mines and coal expansions in Australia overlooked certain realities.

“Labor understands that the Paris agreement provides Australia with an opportunity for carbon reduction and essential policy tools for economy-wide and globally effective decarbonisation,” Gray said.

“We need credible mechanisms for transitioning Australia to a lower emissions economy.

“But this transition cannot happen overnight. Coal will continue to play an important role in the world’s energy mix for years to come, and will continue to be a significant part of our export commodity portfolio.”

Australia must invest strongly in technology such as carbon capture and storage and clean coal technologies in order to lower greenhouse gas emissions, and to lead the world in job and wealth creating technology, Gray said.

“There is no credible solution to global electricity generation that does not include a role for renewable energy, coal, gas and nuclear,” he said.

“But coal isn’t just about producing energy. There is no substitute for metallurgical coal in steel manufacturing. Metallurgical coal accounts for 58% of the value and 48% of the volume of Australia’s total coal exports.

“Australia’s coal exports are important to our customers in Asia and India, and to our mining communities. Our growing living standards are linked to producing and distributing energy, and consuming metal. Reducing the supply of Australian coal into the world market will not change these realities.”

Speaking in opposition to a motion by LNP Member George Christensen, Gray lamented the extreme language that now clouds the debate about Carmichael’s Adani coal mine.

“When I sit in this place and hear the member for Dawson speaking of eco-terrorists, extreme greens and ideological terrorism it really worries me. It is just this kind of extreme language from those who oppose the resources sector which is now matched by others that causes great concern,” he said.

“Increasingly, I hear it from those who would have us believe that they are doing it on behalf of the resources sector when they are actually doing it on behalf of their own petty partisan politics, or obsessions.

“While I understand the Member for Dawson’s fierce advocacy for an industry that is vital to his electorate, extreme language opposing environmental laws is not good public policy and does not benefit the resources sector in general. Worse it actually damages Adani, Carmichael and constituents of Mr Christian – the people of Dawson.”