Federal Deputy Labor Leader Richard Marles has apologised for comments he made about coal mining during the federal election.

Mr Marles claimed the decline of the coal industry was “a good thing”, alienating many regional Queensland Labor figures who believe they lost votes due to the gaff.

He joined John Stanley in-studio, telling him he has now travelled to several regional coal mining communities and personally apologised for the comments.

“Those comments were tone deaf, is the truth.

“What those comments failed to acknowledge, respect, maybe celebrate, is that coal miners have families, they have income, they pay bills.

“There was a lack of empathy, I think, in the comments that I made.

“I should have known better.”

Click PLAY below to hear the full interview