Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

It is a long bow to go from considering board representation within the grains industry to this ridiculous suggestion from the opposition. One would think that if they have serious questions within this portfolio they would go to them.

There is a range of serious issues within this portfolio that I am working through, without the cooperation of those opposite. The areas of research and development are all the way through—and a drought policy. Those opposite are not interested in any policy development. They only want to say 'no' in relation to many of these issues.

Looking at this portfolio, I have been in 70 different places across regional Australia, I have been in all the states and territories and I have spoken to hundreds of stakeholders within this portfolio, unlike those opposite who remain captured— (Time expired)