Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Hansard source

We would be able to talk about the election promise we made about the white paper and how we are looking forward to a great future for all farming families in this nation. We would be able to talk about the Northern Australia white paper and how we see a new economic horizon for farming in this nation. We would be able to talk about inland rail and how we are developing major infrastructure to absolutely increase the capacity for the logistics in inland Australia.

But I think it is extremely important that we also talk about Mr Paul Howes, because Mr Paul Howes was instrumental in both the selection and the execution of two former prime ministers of this nation. I find it an absolute insult that, from his lofty heights, he would make a disparaging comment about all family farms. I would like to know if this is the view of his colleague in the AWU, the Leader of the Opposition. Does he also believe that this is the end for ma and pa farms? Is it the end for farming families? Is that the view of the AWU? Is that the view of the Australian Labor Party?

After we get rid of ma and pa farms, are we going to get rid of ma and pa suburbs? Are we going to get rid of ma and pa small businesses? Are we going to put in their place a corporate farm where the future for the sons and daughters of the people who are listening to this is swinging a spanner on someone else's farm? The vision we in the coalition have is that we will own the farm—the Australian family will own the Australian farm. There is a great future for Australian families, and there is a great future in the Australian farm.

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