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Coal should 'play a role for many years', new Hunter MP says

Josh Butler

New Labor MP Dan Repacholi has used his first speech to parliament to say the government wants coal to “continue to play a role for many years to come in powering the world”, and that his electorate of Hunter would continue to supply such a market.

Repacholi apologised to local branch members in his electorate for a controversial selection process that saw him chosen as Labor’s candidate, admitting it was not “through the normal processes”.

Making his first speech on Tuesday afternoon, the member for Hunter said he left school at 15 to start an apprenticeship as a fitter and turner. A five-time Olympian and Commonwealth Games champion pistol shooter, he was elected at the May election after spending several years as a coal miner then being handpicked to replace outgoing MP, Joel Fitzgibbon, in the Hunter Valley seat.

Repacholi attracted controversy a year ago when then opposition leader, Anthony Albanese, chose him as a “captain’s pick” instead of letting local branch members run a normal preselection process.