Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

If we're going to work on a bipartisan basis on this issue—we have not seen the policies that the opposition might be suggesting, but equally I would say this: the response that we're providing is comprehensive. It is dealing firstly with the assistance directly to farm households, whether they be farmers or graziers or others. It is investing in the district communities that need the support to work through the drought and to provide for their resilience for the future.

It is a serious issue, and Labor have referred to the suggestion of a 'war cabinet'. I would remind them of the history: that, even when this nation was actually in war, there was not a war cabinet of the nature suggested by the member who asked this question. I think it's important that we will continue to consult widely, as we do—listening, most importantly, to farmers and the rural districts, who we will continue to work with. The only politics being played on the drought is by those who sit opposite.

See this speech in context