Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

Happy birthday, Senator Moore! As I rise here tonight, grain growers across the country are working on their cropping strategy for the coming year. They are working out how rising fertiliser prices—up $100 a tonne on the last year—and fuel price hikes from around 90c to $1.40 a litre will impact on their business. They are praying for favourable rains after years and years of drought. They are getting prepared for the coming season. They are some of the people that I represent.

Today marks the 30th day of hearings for the Cole inquiry. Since the Cole inquiry started its public hearings on 16 January this year, barely a day has passed when the media and political spotlight has not has been on the AWB, the single desk and the Howard-Vaile government. I have to say I am bitterly disappointed at some of the hysteria, political point scoring and misinformation that has been whipped up by some. Australian wheat farmers are already suffering from the impact of drought and low prices. This sort of ongoing commentary does nothing to help them, and the attitude of the ALP does nothing to help them.