Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation) Share this | Hansard source

Given that there is a royal commission under way, it would be highly inappropriate to canvass the issues raised by the senator, asking what was or was not necessarily known. I represent the minister for agriculture in this place. It is not within my specific portfolio. Whilst we have a royal commission under way, I think that that is the best approach.

Having said that, I did note in the question the comment about funding to Saddam Hussein. I now note that Kevin Rudd, the shadow minister for foreign affairs, is asserting that some of that money may have been used to fund international terrorism and suicide bombers. That is a very important step for the Australian Labor Party to have taken, because previously they were in denial that Saddam Hussein was the sponsor of international terrorism and funding the families of suicide bombers. I used to think it was $25,000 per hit—and what a terrible term to use in that context—but, interestingly enough, the figure that Mr Rudd now uses is in fact higher: $33,000. Have no doubt, if the Labor policy were to be adopted, Saddam Hussein would still be in power, funding international terrorism and suicide bombers. We on this side of the chamber make no apology for our stance in ridding the world of this dictator and sponsor of international terrorism.