John Cobb (Calare, National Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

I have a quick comment to make on drought: never before has the agriculture section in the budget papers referred to the cessation of drought programs. So I think it is pretty obvious where the minister is going on that one.

I would now like to touch on the minister’s real love, which is climate change. Because he often says that he could probably be referred to as the ‘assistant minister for climate change’, I draw his attention to the RIRDC report on the effects of his government’s proposed CPRS on agriculture. Despite the fact that it is a government report, it goes quite deeply into the effect of the scheme on agriculture, whether or not agriculture is included directly in the scheme. The effect is substantial. Cuts in income terms of up to or even over 22 per cent are severe—and I am sure that the minister would acknowledge that. In question time a couple of weeks ago, in answer to a dorothy dixer from your side to you, Minister—

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