Bruce Scott (Maranoa, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Agriculture. I remind the minister that parts of my electorate of Maranoa are experiencing a one-in-100-year drought event. Will the minister update the House on the extended measures put in place to support these farmers?

Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Maranoa for the question. Obviously, I have an acute knowledge of the seat of Maranoa, having lived there for quite a while, having started a business there. There was a Senate office that was further from the coast than any other Senate office in the history of this nation, which shows our belief in regional areas.

It is with great pleasure today that we announce a $100 million facility for further assistance, at a rate of 3.21 per cent over 10 years, giving people access to this money for 10 years. I also note the member for Parkes, Mark Coulton, who has done so much work towards this—3.21 per cent for 10 years; five years interest only; five years PNI; borrowing up to $1 million. This is to help people who are dealing with those droughts—a one-in-100-year drought in so many areas—but it also gives consideration to those who are near that one-in-100-year drought area. It also deals with people who have to deal with the ravages of the cessation of the live cattle trade to Indonesia—something that fully lays on the shoulders of the other side who closed it down and absolutely decimated those people's lives and decimated their incomes. It has been left to this side to try to fix it up. We are very proud of the work we have done here on agriculture. We are very proud of the work that the coalition has done, because it was under your government, the previous government—just to start off, you halved the size of the budget in agriculture. If you—

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

The minister will direct his comments through the chair and use the correct terms for members.

Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. The previous government halved the size of the budget of agriculture. When they started, there was the interim farm family payment. They had only—

Mr Champion interjecting—

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

The member for Wakefield and his bananas will leave under 94(a)

Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

granted 367 loans—367 people got the interim farm family payment. Under our government, 4,395 people. It just goes to show—

Honourable members interjecting —

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

We know who eats bananas, don't we? There will be silence. The minister will resume his seat. For those people who found the bananas amusing, we know who eats bananas, don't we? The minister has the call.

Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Madam Speaker. It just goes to show you the contempt that the other side have, and they have taken this chamber to an absolute point of ridicule. We are trying to make absolutely certain that we do things to help people. They just go to their circus clown antics. They only managed to put out eight loans. We have put out 430.

Mr Brendan O'Connor interjecting—

Mr Albanese interjecting—

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

The members for Gorton and Grayndler will desist.

Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

They shut down the live cattle trade. We have completed three free trade agreements with Korea, China and Japan. That just goes to show you what an incredible difference of governments makes and what a disaster you were, and how we are going to look after the people who are doing it so tough.

Honourable members interjecting—

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

The minister has finished his speech. The member will resume his seat. After the bananas incident I am not amused. I call the honourable member for Braddon.