Joel Fitzgibbon (Hunter, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister. Was the president of the National Farmers' Federation accurate this morning when, in describing the government's chaotic handling of the backpacker tax, she said, 'We were absolutely blindsided by an item in the budget that came in, that we were not consulted about—'

Mr Sukkar interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Hunter will resume his seat, perhaps somewhere convenient, if the Manager of Opposition Business moves his books. I have cautioned members many times on interjecting while the question is on. The member for Deakin is warned. The member for Hunter will begin his question again.

Joel Fitzgibbon (Hunter, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister. Was the president of the National Farmers' Federation accurate this morning when, in describing the government's chaotic handling of the backpacker tax, she said, 'We were absolutely blindsided by an item in the budget that came in, that we were not consulted about, that said that they were going to put the backpacker tax up to 32 per cent from nought per cent'?

Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

First of all, I would like to congratulate him. He has made it to question No. 2! It is an auspicious day. I am not quite sure about what happened in the 'badget'. I imagine they found a badger in the 'badget'. I am not quite sure what you do with a 'badget'. What I can say is that the backpacker tax rate of 32½ per cent was brought about by Mr Wayne Swan, who now sits as the member for Lilley. He is the person—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Deputy Prime Minister will resume his seat. The—

Mr Albanese interjecting—

And stop interjecting, Member for Grayndler. The Manager of Opposition Business on a point of order?

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Once again, they are not addressing members by their titles.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Deputy Prime Minister needs to address members by their correct titles. It would also help—

Honourable members interjecting—

This might take a long time.

Mr Joyce interjecting—

I have not called the Deputy Prime Minister yet. Deputy Prime Minister, you do not have the call. I have not finished addressing the House. It is early in question time. In response to the Manager of Opposition Business: yes; the Deputy Prime Minister will refer to members by their correct titles. It would assist the Speaker in hearing everything that the Deputy Prime Minister says if the level of interjections are lower. I would like to ask the House to lower the volume, or I will start doing it. The Deputy Prime Minister has the call.

Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I know that they get very excited when the member for Hunter gets a question. I can understand why they would raise their voices. But it is very important to understand that it was the former Treasurer, now the member for Lilley—and he seems to be here for a fair while. The reason we had a 32½ per cent rate is by reason of the actions of the previous government, the Labor government.

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal brought about a result in November last year that meant that we had to not allow them to get the tax-free threshold. What we did was made sure we had a long form of investigation, a long form of report that included the NFF. The NFF was part of it. The VFF was part of it. The NT Farmers were part of it. When we came to an agreement on a rate, the rate was 19 per cent. Everybody agreed to it.

Opposition members interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Members on my left will cease interjecting!

Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The problem was that the Leader of the Opposition and member for Maribyrnong went into an agreement with the senator for Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie, where his senior economic advice comes from. This led to the ridiculous position where they were basically going to try and blow the show up. That is what he is really on about. He is a person who cannot be trusted. He is duplicitous—

Mr Dreyfus interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Isaacs is warned.

Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

in his actions in how he goes about it. He is a person who has no interest in actually bringing about a result. He just wants to fight. He probably gets that desire, that zeal for the fight, from his days in the union—where they can go into an area where things have been resolved and create chaos. The dilemma that we were placed in was we made sure, we made the promise, that we would resolve this issue by the time that the rate went back to 32½ per cent, which was 1 January next year. We made that promise. We honoured that promise. We delivered on that promise. And right now the Labor Party still hold to their promise of a 10½ per cent rate. Is the member for Maribyrnong going to stand up now and show his authenticity and show he is not duplicitous by saying he stands behind the 10½ per cent rate? Will you do that? Of course you will not, because you cannot be trusted. (Time expired)