Nick Minchin (SA, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

Based on draftsmen’s advice, amendments (4) to (6) are required to ensure that individual wheat growers exporting their own wheat are not caught up in the accreditation process and the act does not apply to them. Of course, as you know, Senator, for quite some time the current regime regarding bulk wheat export has not applied to the export of wheat in bag or containers not capable of holding more than 50 tonnes of wheat. That has been the case for a very long time. The government, properly, is ensuring that such exports continue to be exempt from this operation. We want to exempt not only that sort of export of wheat but wheat exported by the producer of the wheat. Based on advice, the best way to do that and ensure they are not caught up in the accreditation process is to include these amendments. Can I say for the record that we on our side have enormous faith in the honesty and integrity of Australian wheat growers and we think it would be quite improper, wrong and unacceptable for this Senate to suggest that any wheat grower exporting their own wheat would want to cheat the system. We do not accept that; we do think they are honest farmers.