Queensland Nationals Senator Barnaby Joyce has called on Labor’s Shadow Minister for Climate Change, Environment and Heritage, Peter Garrett, to come clean on whether he believes coal exports should be phased out.

"Peter is a decent fellow but I do not feel for a moment he believes in the continued export of coal for burning.

"For the record, I do believe we should continue while, at the same time, advancing clean coal burning technology. We would have an economic meltdown if we lost our major export earner.

"All of Australia knows the former head of the Australian Conservation Foundation does not believe in the coal fired power plants. So, why does the Labor Rudd Opposition shackle him from telling us his true feelings?

"Why are they forcing him to compromise himself?

"If Mr Rudd wants to do something revolutionary, let him start treating his colleague as a colleague, not as a child in a schoolroom with no thoughts of his own.

"Let's see if Mr Rudd can take his party into the 21st Century where he credits the public with the ability to discern the difference in views that are obvious within the Labor party on the coal issue.

"While Mr Rudd is at it, why on earth do Labor Senators still have to give a pledge they will obey caucus and not the wishes of their State?

"Surely this has to be one of the most anachronistic hang ups which should be dismissed in 2007."