Bill Heffernan (NSW, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I am not interested in that. I am saying that collectively we have made a mistake with this legislation and I am appealing to the government of the day to forget about the politics. You can slag me as much as you like and I will take the blame for the stupidity of the previous government that put this legislation together. The previous government would have been advised by the same department that is advising you today that there is a flaw in this legislation, but because of a complication with the tax act from now until 2011 they do not have a solution. I appreciate the fact that the Assistant Treasurer’s office talked to me today. I am appealing that we put aside the politics and find a mechanism to deal with what is a fundamental flaw. I agree with Senator Joyce, the Greens and the department that we have to fix it, because this will become a disgrace. It will become an absolute flaw.

As you know, Senator Conroy, we are going to look into the future at how a farmer that is viable can produce food that is affordable for the consumer and sustainable to the environment. This legislation flies in the face of all that logic. It allows a bottom-of-the-harbour type of tax rort to be put in place with the full knowledge of the government and the opposition. The opposition obviously did not think this through when they were in government because it is a complete mess. I am appealing that we put aside all the bloody bullshit of politics—