Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

It is left to Labor to protect our agricultural sector from pests and diseases through a strong biosecurity system. It is left to Labor to recognise the importance of our billions of agricultural exports and to work with industry to cut red tape through export reform. It is left to Labor to prepare for climate change with a $1.7 billion land sector package, because it is our farmers that are on the front line. The government have invested in rural research and development because we believe that agriculture has a future based on the natural ingenuity of our farmers. That is why we provided $1.1 billion on rural research and development. Unlike those opposite, Labor look forward for the Asian century. We support foreign investment and jobs in regional Australia. We are not caught in the past. We do not pine for the so-called good old days of the single desk, do we? No, we do not pine for those single desk days.

Senator Nash interjecting—

I am sure you do over there, but the Liberals get a bit quiet because the doormats have rolled you on deregulation.

Government senators interjecting—