From ABC Tropical Queensland

Nationals Senate leader Barnaby Joyce says the member for Dawson is not doing enough to protect jobs in north Queensland.

Senator Joyce says economic modelling shows the Mackay economy will contract by 20 per cent if an emissions trading scheme (ETS) is brought in, and he says James Bidgood should be fighting the plan.

Senator Joyce has previously indicated he may run as the LNP candidate for Dawson at the next Federal election.

He says the ETS will cost thousands of north Queenslanders their jobs.

"The ETS is the Employment Termination Scheme for the people of north Queensland, for the people of Mackay, for the farming and coal belts of this part of the state," he said.

"Any person who is worth their salt has only one thing to do, that's go to Canberra and have the courage and the conviction to fight for the people who live in this area."

James Bidgood has been unavailable for comment.