Kelvin Thomson (Wills, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Public Accountability and Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade. Is the Deputy Prime Minister aware of a recent government publication Managing vertebrate pests: rodents, which shows rats undermine export crops, damaging trade by up to $26 million a year, and which describes Queensland canefield rats as a rising threat? Is the minister taking any action to deal with the emerging threat from Queensland rats?

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

I thank the member for his question. These people seriously put themselves forward as the alternative government in Australia. What the publication proves is the extent to which the government does go to assist Australian exporters to be as competitive and efficient as possible. And I think that the member for Hotham would know all about rats.