Arthur Sinodinos (NSW, Liberal Party, Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Hansard source

(—) (): Yes, I am aware of different approaches to the relationship between our two countries. You judge countries and governments by their actions, not just by their words, and many in this place will remember how Labor in government treated the great country of Indonesia. Labor shut down the entire cattle industry overnight, leaving Australian farmers devastated, exacerbating Indonesia's food security concerns and undermining Indonesia's confidence in Australia as a trade partner. The big mistake Indonesia made was not having the CFMEU on its side! Then maybe Labor would have thought twice about banning the industry. That is the truth. Conversely, this government has established a productive trade in cattle with Indonesia, including securing a commitment from Indonesia to introduce an annual permit, to bring certainty and stability to industries in both countries. It was people like Senator Macdonald, the 'lion of the north', whose birthday it is today, who did so much to bring this issue— (Time expired)