Cory Bernardi (SA, Australian Conservatives) Share this | Hansard source

If it were anyone else, I would suggest you were being tricky. I thought I was clear. I appreciate your willingness to assist here. I raised concerns, in my speech in the second reading debate, about the direct funding of loans to farmers by government. They were based on the report of the Productivity Commission in looking at alternative ways to deal with the issue. Now, yes, they might not be relevant directly to this bill, but this bill does, in effect, provide the Commonwealth with the facility to provide loans directly to farmers. I am concerned—I don't want to conflate the two issues—but it is about the constitutionality of the approach the government is taking. I am not trying to be tricky. I don't think you are trying to be tricky, but I just want a clear answer. You've had advice in respect of this bill from the Government Solicitor, which is what you mentioned before. I would like to know when advice was received that it is entirely within the constitutional purview of the government to proceed with this approach.