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 refer to the minister's previous answers. Is it just a coincidence that the consultant who gave the go-ahead to spray critically endangered grasslands on the minister's land also advised the authors of the letter about so-called problems with the listing?

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

I've already made a comprehensive and detailed statement to the House earlier today, where I made clear that my focus in my work as the member for Hume was the technical aspects of the listing and ensuring that farmers get a fair deal under this listing. That was my focus. That remains my focus, and that is my job, because there are only two people in this parliament who have regions covered by this, and only one was ever going to advocate for the farmers across that region, and that was me.

But the question whose answer I want to know is: what have those opposite got against hardworking farmers? We've seen in this place now a targeted and deliberate approach from those opposite not just to demonise them but to fail to support them when it really counts. Just last week they voted against the government's drought fund, which would help farmers when we're doing it tough.

An opposition member: No, we didn't.

This is a vital fund.

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

The Leader of the Opposition might resume his seat for a second. The minister is now straying from the subject.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

From reality!

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

No, Leader of the Opposition, you didn't have the call. Has the minister concluded?

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

It was in October that they failed to. This is a vital fund. It'll grow from $3.9 billion to $5 billion over the next decade—

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

No, I just say to the minister—

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

and it is the support that farmers need. You need to provide that support as well.