Ms Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Hansard source

Without the capacity to negotiate directly, I have written today to every member of the opposition in both houses and offered them all individual briefings. We cannot deal with one person to provide a position on behalf of the opposition so that we can say to wheat growers that there is certainty for the new crop. We cannot provide that until the opposition declares a position. If the only way we can go forward is to allow public servants to provide confidential briefings—and we will not release who accepts them and who does not—for every member of the coalition, then that is available and we will go forward with that. The Leader of the Opposition could fix this now by standing up and declaring that the Liberal Party, at least, will take a sensible economic decision—what they know is a responsible, competitive position—and give wheat growers certainty. If the National Party is not willing to do it, some leadership should be offered and there is one person who can offer it.

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