Sophie Mirabella (Indi, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

The funding did go to an associated entity, of which there are many in politics. The second point where I have been misrepresented is where he said that, where some tobacco growers opposed the BAT buyout, I said they were motivated by corruption or fear of criminal thugs in the industry. That is wrong. I was approached by several of my growers who had been intimidated. All they have to do is speak to the directors of the tobacco cooperative to understand the criminality that has entered the tobacco industry. The third point where I have been misrepresented is where the member for Gorton said that I went on to support BAT’s buyout of local growers. That is incorrect. A meeting of 500 growers and their families knows that I was there, and all I did was outline the federal government’s support package in the event that growers would accept a buyout of industry. And, may I say, Mr Speaker, that package from the Commonwealth government—

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