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

My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister, and I refer to his previous answer. Is the government aware that both the National Farmers Federation and Meat & Livestock Australia have plans for their sectors to be carbon neutral by 2030?

Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I can tell you what they do have a plan to do, and that is increase agriculture to $100 billion from the $60 billion that it is now. If ever there was a friend of the farmers, if ever there was a friend of the National Farmers Federation, it is the Liberal and Nationals who sit on this side of the House.

Dr Chalmers interjecting—

We sit on this side of the House—you may well laugh, Member for Rankin; you wanted to totally destroy agriculture. And the member for Watson over there wanted to take water away from our irrigators. The member for Hunter got the biggest wake-up call on 18 May last year, and all of a sudden he's discovered farmers, he's discovered his regional roots—

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

The Deputy Prime Minister will resume his seat for a second. I just say to the Deputy Prime Minister: the question didn't go to any alternative policies. The Deputy Prime Minister needs to confine his answer to the question that was asked.

Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

NFF CEO Tony Mahar has actually said that there's been no consultation from those opposite with their reckless plan, their irresponsible plan—

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

The Leader of the Opposition on a point of order?

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

It was a very specific question. It went to whether the Deputy Prime Minister was aware that the NFF and Meat & Livestock Australia both planned for their sectors to be carbon neutral by 2030.

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

The Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat. The Leader of the House is seeking the call.

Christian Porter (Pearce, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There was no mention of what the point of order was with regard to the standing orders. We have the Leader of the Opposition taking a non-point-of-order when it should have been the leader of the Rebel Alliance!

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

I point out to the Leader of the House that he is right, but, given that the Leader of the Opposition directly followed a ruling I made with respect to the question, I've been fairly lenient. The reason ministers are able to canvass alternative policies is they're asked about them. And, if you're not asked about them, I'll allow a little bit of tolerance for compare and contrast. But, given that 10 questions come from my right-hand side, I think there's ample opportunity. When there is a specific question, as this one was, the Deputy Prime Minister needs to confine himself to the question that's been asked.

Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm aware that the Meat & Livestock people and the NFF people are wanting to make sure that they grow agriculture to $100 billion by 2030. How you do that is you have the right policies in place. They know that in this government we've got the right policies in place. We'll make sure that we continue to put those right policies in place. I realise he's had his road to Damascus moment. I realise the member for Hunter has all of a sudden seen the light. (Time expired)