Anthony Albanese announces Labor candidate for Flynn Matt Burnett | Alds

The opposition leader, who is on a tour of Queensland, is yet to visit a coal mine since taking on the top job.

But on Thursday he had a message for coal workers who fear they might lose their jobs.

“Every worker in Queensland has my respect, including people in the coal industry,” Mr Albanese said.

“Coal will continue to play a role in powering our economy.

“There won’t be a new coal-fired power station built because of the changes to the markets.

“But we’ll continue to export coal … for power generation. But also, of course, for the creation of steel.”

The Labor leader made the commitment to back Australian coal exports at the end of 2019, ahead of a trip to regional Queensland.

However, division over an ambitious climate policy continued to reign throughout last year.

Labor backbencher Joel Fitzgibbon said the party needed to focus more on blue-collar workers, like those in his coal seat of Hunter.

Queensland punished the opposition at the last election with Labor suffering a 4 per cent swing against it in primary votes.

But Mr Albanese hopes his hand-picked candidate in the rural seat of Flynn will turn things around at the next poll.

Gladstone mayor Matt Burnett was unveiled as the party’s candidate on Thursday with a glowing endorsement that he was a “local champion”, like Eden-Monaro MP and former Bega mayor Kristy McBain.

“Matt Burnett will deliver for the entire region of Flynn, not just here in Gladstone, but in Emerald, in Biloela, and throughout the region,” Mr Albanese said.

“That’s why I think he will make an outstanding candidate and make a great local member after the next election.”

The LNP holds Flynn on a 7.6 per cent margin but Labor views it as a winnable seat.

“I wouldn’t have put my hand up if I didn’t think there was a chance to win Flynn back,” Mr Burnett said.

“And not just a chance, a real chance under the leadership of Anthony Albanese.”