The Morning Bulletin, Rockhampton

 MAVERICK senator Barnaby Joyce says Central Queenslanders are the big losers from Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s “tutti frutti” climate change plans.

Senator Joyce labelled as “nutty as a fruit cake” Ms Gillard’s plan to create a citizens’ assembly to forge a national consensus on action on climate change.

Senator Joyce warned people in Rockhampton that Labor and The Greens had struck a partnership agreement.

He said the Greens didn’t believe in coal mining and wanted to close mines down.

They also represented higher taxes. 

“This is how things will work for you in Rockhampton,” Senator Joyce said. “The epicentre of effect will be in Central Queensland.”

Senator George Brandis said the Prime Minister had put the ETS back on the political agenda. 

The senators were part of the four-man LNP senate ticket team, also including Brett Mason and Russell Trood, who joined LNP candidate for Capricornia Michelle Landry in Rockhampton yesterday.