Nick Champion (Wakefield, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Before I begin to speak on the Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2016-2017, I would like to assure the member for Forrest that while there was a bit of chat around the desk it was not in regard to her constituents. We, indeed I, have constituents who are dairy farmers. We all know the great amount of time, energy, money and heart they invest into their farms and businesses. We all look aghast, I think, at some of the situations that have been caused by the deregulation of the dairy industry. That was led by Victorian farmers, I might note, and the consequences are still being felt now.

Here we are on the appropriation bill, and I can talk about anything, so I am going to talk about the first anniversary. It seems like yesterday that I was standing just at this box. I remember standing here—it was in the triumphant period—

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