THE race for the seat of Dawson is hotting up with Labor candidate Frank Gilbert yesterday visiting Airlie Beach and Proserpine.

Mr Gilbert hosted a sausage sizzle in both towns, inviting the public to come express their concerns and hear Labor's policies.

"Accessibility and listening to people are pretty important qualities that a federal member should have," he said.

Mr Gilbert said he had been quizzed on a number of key issues.

"People are concerned about economic opportunities, people spoke to me about the viability of the reef (and) people wanted to know my stance on the coal industry," he said.

The Labor candidate said he supported the Carmichael Mine and the Abbot Point Expansion, provided a number of conditions are met.

"I'm supportive of the Adani coal mine going ahead providing...that the environmental, financial and labour standards of Australia are met by the project," he said.

"I'm not in favour of subsidising the cost of the infrastructure, I think it's got to stand on it's own two feet as a project."

After meeting with Adani CEO Jeyakumar Janakaraj, Mr Gilbert said he was satisfied the project would meet these standards.

Mr Gilbert said while coal mining would provide job opportunities, the Great Barrier Reef was "far more valuable in than coal in the long term".

"But you can't point the finger at one industry," he said.

"It's got to be a responsibility that's spread over the whole community."

Addressing the recent debate over coral bleaching, Mr Gilbert said it was "a real concern".

"And that is attributable to the change in sea temperature, which is probably attributable to one of the effects of climate change," he said.

"I believe that it can recover, but we have to take global action and get fair dinkum about making a difference world wide."

Mr Gilbert said ensuring the Whitsunday Coast Airport would welcome international visitors and addressing the issue of flooding on the Bruce Highway in Goorganga Plains would also been high priorities.