George Christensen (Dawson, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I wish to make personal explanation.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?

George Christensen (Dawson, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, most grievously. In today's Mackay Daily Mercury on page 18 John Pratt of Wilmar Sugar Australia has said: 'Mr Christensen and canegrowers need to explain why they don't want canegrowers to be part of a marketing system that would give them more farm income.' He goes on to say: 'Growers would have on average achieved a cane price which was more than $4 per tonne higher than under QSL, Queensland Sugar Ltd, which equates to an increase of more than 50 per cent in average gross margins.' What Mr Pratt has not said is that the premium achieved by Wilmar was done through an aggressive price pool within Queensland Sugar Ltd.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Dawson has shown where he believes he has been misrepresented. Now he must show why it is that he has been misrepresented without entering into debate.

George Christensen (Dawson, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, Madam Speaker. Also, Mr Pratt raised another matter. He said, 'We have offered to meet Mr Christensen to explain the details of our proposal, but so far he has chosen not to meet with Wilmar.' I have on three separate occasions met with Wilmar about this issue, most recently on 16 May in Mackay.