Terri Butler (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction. I again refer to his earlier answers and to the letter from farm organisations dated 3 October 2017. Given the minister refused to answer, I ask again: is the single alleged EPBC breach referenced in that letter the alleged poisoning of critically endangered grassland on the minister's land?

Angus Taylor (Hume, Liberal Party, Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That is the same question and it will get the same answer: it is not my area of portfolio responsibility. But let's be clear: through the course of the questions today and the actions of those opposite over recent weeks and months, it is clear that they believe that farmers subject to regulation where they can't assess their responsibilities don't deserve representation. They have made clear that a regulation which implies farmers can't with any confidence improve their pastures or manage their weeds is okay and they don't deserve representation. They have in recent times made clear that they think farmers don't deserve a drought fund and they are okay with farmers being named in the face of activism.

Mr Brian Mitchell interjecting—

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

The member for Lyons is warned.

Angus Taylor (Hume, Liberal Party, Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We will stand up for farmers. You need to learn a lot more about them.