Russell Broadbent (McMillan, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have been wondering why this generation of young people have so many illnesses or other issues that our previous generations didn't face. One thing we all have in common is that we all eat and drink. Is it to do with the food that this generation have a problem with? Ninety-five per cent of my electorate is rural—

Gary, it's good to see you in the gallery!

More than that, we have the number of farmers in our electorate that provide the food and soil—healthy soil, healthy people. What has happened is that one farmer in his shed, Neil Olsen, has produced a piece of equipment that, when run through the ground, increases the carbon in the soil and improves the soil. You say: 'But that's just a plough. That's nothing special! That's just a plough.' Well, it works. It gives a one per cent per month increase in the carbon in the soil. Better soil, better food, better nutrition: that's what we've got to deliver to our children. I wonder whether, as a nation, we should be looking at what we're putting through these lips and whether it's good for us. If it's not good for us we should be doing something about it. Let's start with healthy soil.