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

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I thank the minister for his answer as far as it goes, but the issue I raise is really: is the government prepared to pay compensation, stand as guarantor or offer an indemnity, all at taxpayer cost, to possible claims of compensation? If it is not, the obvious consequence—surely the minister would accept—is that, on the precautionary principle, it would be more sensible to take the veto power from the AWB because it is in a classic conflict-of-interest situation and because it is under threat of material legal action. If the government cannot produce legislation in the short term to do that, at least give the power of veto to the Treasurer. My question arising from that is: isn’t it better in the short and medium term that the Treasurer exercise final approval power for wheat export licences in the national interest on a case by case basis, particularly to assist my Western Australian wheat growers who need to move their crop and are unable to do so at present—