Gavan O'Connor (Corio, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. I refer the minister to his personal explanation—

Peter McGauran (Gippsland, National Party, Deputy Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr McGauran interjecting

Gavan O'Connor (Corio, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You just watch it there, Macca!

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

Order! The member for Corio has the call.

Gavan O'Connor (Corio, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I refer the minister to his personal explanation to the House yesterday concerning his endorsement of work on alternatives to the single desk for wheat by industry body Single Vision. Did the minister meet with directors or officers of Single Vision prior to the commencement of its single desk review in March this year? Was he informed of the organisation’s plan to commission this work?

Peter McGauran (Gippsland, National Party, Deputy Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for his question. Of course, the government welcomes the views of stakeholders. There are a great many opinions and views being expressed, from within the industry especially, with regard to future arrangements for the single desk. The government has not endorsed anybody’s view; we have heard many people. I am stopped often as I walk around the countryside, as my colleagues are. A lot of people come up to us; a lot of views are put to us officially and unofficially. We have said on any number of occasions that the government endorses the single desk so long as it is of benefit to wheat growers and is in the national interest.

Lindsay Tanner (Melbourne, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Tanner interjecting

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

The member for Melbourne is warned.

Peter McGauran (Gippsland, National Party, Deputy Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is not productive to speculate on what the changes might be in the future. We are waiting for the Cole report before doing so. In regard to Single Vision, can I remind the honourable member that it is an entity associated with the Grains Research and Development Corporation, it is funded out of levies and it is an industry body. Just as members of the Grains Council of Australia and the Grains Research and Development Corporation put views to me, so has Single Vision. I am not going to close my door to anybody. Instead, I will respect industry views, but the government has not concluded its own views.