Kay Hull (Riverina, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is addressed to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade. Would the Deputy Prime Minister outline to the House actions the government has taken to support the efforts of Australian wheat growers in the Iraq market? Are there any alternative views?

Mark Vaile (Lyne, National Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Riverina for her question. The member for Riverina represents an area that produces a lot of prime hard wheat in the state of New South Wales. It goes to exports to many of the markets across the world.

While the Australian Labor Party engage in this blatant politicking around this issue and make themselves out as having now become the best friend of US Wheat Associates—that is what the Australian Labor Party have done; they have become the best friend of US Wheat Associates, who are competitors with Australian wheat growers—we are getting on and looking after the interests of Australian grain growers. Iraq is one of our top five wheat markets and is a key market. It has been a key market for over 50 years. We are going to continue to make every effort to protect our growers’ interests in that market.

Michael Danby (Melbourne Ports, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Danby interjecting

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Melbourne Ports!

Mark Vaile (Lyne, National Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On Monday I asked our ambassador to Iraq to make representations to the Iraqi government over wheat sales during the Cole inquiry. The ambassador met with Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Chalabi overnight. Mr Chalabi has assured us that the Iraqis want to continue to buy Australian wheat. I note that Iraq has rejected a tender from the US wheat growers in recent days, while another of our top five markets, Egypt, has just confirmed another order with AWB overnight.

The message that I am hearing from Australian wheat growers is that they want the National and Liberal parties to keep Ruddy’s hands off their interests and the single desk. As the Grains Council of Australia said in a recent media release, ‘grain producers refuse to suffer the consequences of the political grandstanding and loose talk’—particularly that coming from the ALP.

More than 80 per cent of Australian wheat growers support the single desk. We know the Labor Party’s view about the single desk. The member for Hunter has made some comments on the Labor Party’s website about the single desk.

Kim Wilkie (Swan, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Wilkie interjecting

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order!

Mark Vaile (Lyne, National Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We know what the Labor Party will do with the single desk.

Kim Wilkie (Swan, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Wilkie interjecting

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The member for Swan!

Mark Vaile (Lyne, National Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Wheat growers will not trust—

Kim Wilkie (Swan, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Wilkie interjecting

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The member for Swan is warned!

Mark Vaile (Lyne, National Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

the Australian Labor Party on this. When we are talking about the interests of Australian wheat growers, it is interesting to note that there are not too many people on the Labor Party side that have much experience, let alone any interest, in Australian wheat growers and wheat farming in Australia. There are a couple of people. One is the shadow minister, the member for Corio, who presumably has taken the opportunity to talk to wheat growers across Australia. But what has the Leader of the Opposition done to him? He has cut him adrift in his preselection to get rid of him—to get out of the system the one person who knows something about it. The one person in the Labor Party who has had any ministerial experience in the Australian wheat industry is the member for Hotham, and the Leader of the Opposition has certainly cut him adrift. At least he has had experience—and you are going to get rid of him. You are going to get rid of him from your front bench. You are going to let some union hack come in and represent the seat of Hotham. He is finding it hard to keep it. We wish him well. But it is a fact: he is the only member of the Labor Party that has any experience with Australian wheat growers.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! There are far too many interjections—and the member for Brisbane is warned.

Mark Vaile (Lyne, National Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The point is that the government is doing everything that it possibly can to ensure that we maintain access into the markets of the world for Australian wheat growers.

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Has the minister completed his answer?

Mark Vaile (Lyne, National Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes.

Paul Neville (Hinkler, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I am loath to do this but we cannot hear the responses up in this part of the chamber.

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I accept the point of order from the member for Hinkler. I would remind all members that it is their duty to allow other members to be heard when they are on their feet.