Andrew Murray (WA, Australian Democrats) Share this | Hansard source

My question without notice is to the Leader of the Government in the Senate, the honourable Senator Nick Minchin. Senator Minchin, in your capacity as the Minister for Finance and the Minister representing the Prime Minister, do you agree that the result of both the Volcker report and the Cole report is that there is now a potential for AWB itself and its officers and directors to be subject to criminal and/or civil legal action, including class actions? Do you accept that, in the event that that occurred, there would be a danger that the assets of AWB and related entities could be subject to contingent risk? Is it wise for the government to continue in law to force wheat exporters to sell their product through a monopoly that may be the subject of such legal action? Does that not lay the government open to future claims for compensation if farmers are either not paid or only part-paid for their crop, are paid below the free world market price or are unable to export their crop?