This is seen as a massive increase in our debt, a substantial increase in unemployment and a crippling effect in some small businesses.

The China effect on our major exports and the new bans of various forms was not something we foresaw, however.

Yes, an inquiry had to happen but the driving force for this should have been led by the United States.

It is the US which has lost more people to COVID-19 than they lost servicemen and women in the Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan wars combined.

They have the economic and military dominance to ask questions of the Chinese Government.

China can hurt us economically vastly more than we can affect them. It is similar to what would have happened if Australia had invaded Nazi Germany in 1938 without allies; we would have been noble and dead.

We now have a global resolution and I hope that fulfills the requirement of answering the necessary questions about this pandemic.

One lesson is we have to understand our vulnerabilities in the narrowing of our manufacturing base, replaced by imports.

These imports are vulnerable to a range of factors that inhibit trade including wars, pandemics and trade disputes.

We must rebuild our manufacturing base and maintain resilience in what we still have left. This is done by having a competitive advantage in the production process.

If we developed the technology that is vastly superior to others in the world, we would have this advantage.

If our wages were cheaper, we would have that advantage but who wants to be paid less.

If we had power that was cheaper than elsewhere, that would give us the required advantage.

We used to have the cheapest power, coal fired, now we have the dearest.

The energy roadmap is crucial in taking us back to this advantage essential for our own security and sovereignty.

Unfortunately, it appears to be more of a roadmap to appease political pressure groups rather than a roadmap to power prices that could underwrite a re-energised manufacturing industry.

The phrase "build new coal fired power stations" is not present in the paper.

The myth that renewables are cheaper is only because they are subsidised and the payment is made by you on your power bill.

Additionally, renewable energy costs don't take into account the massive cost of battery back-up such as pumped hydro.

The wind tower is only the wheels of the car; the full cost of the car should include the pump hydro engine for a fair comparison to coal power.

Just like our push for an enquiry into the COVID-19 pandemic, the idea that we will lead the world and China in climate policy, is mere folly.

The current COVID trade implications has taught us that.

Barnaby Joyce is the Federal Member for New England, and former Deputy Prime Minister.