Damian Drum (Murray, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I take this opportunity to again talk about the issue that is the backpacker tax. This issue has passed this House with a resolution which has the support and the backing of the industry itself, whether horticulture, wine, table grapes or any other commodity that needs this critical labour force. But now we find a Labor Party in the Senate that wants to play games with this labour force. I spent my time in opposition in the state parliament, where we were always able to determine what we wanted to do to cause the government of the day a little bit of grief. We were always governed by one aspect, and that was, 'First do no harm to the community'—whether that be making a point on education or health or whatever. But you first start off in opposition with the concept of 'Do no harm'. The Labor Party, by playing games with the backpacker tax and dragging this issue out—

Mike Kelly (Eden-Monaro, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's your tax!

Damian Drum (Murray, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

are going to harm the communities that are a part of it. They will ensure that 32c is the rate that is paid. They will ensure that backpackers stay away. The Labor Party and Bill Shorten playing these games is going to have a detrimental effect on a whole range of industries, and a lot of them are going to be in the Goulburn Valley region. And it is not just the horticulturalists; it is the packing industry, it is the transport industry, it is all the processed industries. The Labor Party needs to get its act together.

Dr Mike Kelly interjecting—

Mr Taylor interjecting—

Mark Coulton (Parkes, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I remind the minister and shadow minister at the table to maintain a bit of decorum.