Tony Windsor (New England, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

and, as the member for Kennedy said, Leader of The Nationals. I have articulated three instances, and there are many more, where these people cannot be believed. These are tests of their commitment to the people, and the commitment that they would look after these working people and small businesses in regional Australia was given prior to an election in a bid to win an election. They have been countermanded by the corporate giants in the retailing world. There is absolutely no doubt about that. Take the wheat example. Who pulled the strings to stop the growers having their say? I do not know the answer to that, but I think someone should find out what the answer to that question is. And who pulled the strings in terms of Chaffey Dam, a localised issue? Who is pulling these strings which make people make commitments when they want to win a vote and then, as soon as the election is over, remove themselves from the scenery and countermand their own decision? What that says is that they are breaching the trust of the Australian public and, in this particular case, there has been a massive breach of trust of the horticulturalists of our nation.

I support the member for Kennedy and the member for Calare. I would suggest to the Labor Party that, if they are serious about representing workers and small businesses, this is an opportunity to express that feeling. Do not hide behind a small step forward. This is very poor law, it is a poor regulation and it should be opposed.

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