Senate debates

Monday, 2 December 2019

Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers

Dairy Industry

3:12 pm

Photo of Nita GreenNita Green (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

As the senators opposite congratulate themselves on doing anything and everything to talk about something other than their complete failure for the dairy farmers, I am going to talk about what has happened in this chamber today, and that is an outpouring of anger by dairy farmers. It is clear that dairy farmers and farmers across the country are angry. We on this side understand that anger. These are tough times for farmers all across the country. We know that there are really tough times ahead. If the drought continues and farmers continue to suffer from the drought, things are going to get even tougher. I have met with representatives of dairy farmers in Queensland. There is a very big collection of dairy farmers up in the tablelands in Far North Queensland close to where I live in Cairns.

Senator Rennick interjecting—

Is 45 a small number for you, Senator Rennick? I think one dairy farmer is good enough for me to stand up and represent them. Are 45 farmers not enough for you to get up and tell the minister that she should do her job? I will stand here and defend every single one of those farmers—whether it is 45, 55 or 450—because they are people who deserve the respect of this chamber instead of getting swatted away by the Minister for Agriculture when we put questions to her about what she's doing. It is obvious that farmers are angry because they are being ignored by this government. The Nationals have let down dairy farmers. They have voted in this chamber against motions to make sure that legislation is discussed, that we have the debate here, that we get some processes moving. But they don't want to do that because they're protecting the Minister for Agriculture.

Today when I asked the Minister for Agriculture questions about this code of conduct and what is going to be happening, we got cynical answers and lecturing and condescension from Senator McKenzie in trying to tell the Labor Party about the supply chain. Well, I can tell you this: farmers do not need any more cynical, condescending lectures from the government. What they want to see is action.

It is surprising that we have seen a letter from Senator McDonald sent to supermarkets about this issue. Senators opposite want to pretend this isn't something that should be focused on, but I can tell you that Senator McDonald would not have had to send that letter if Senator McKenzie were doing her job. Why does George Christensen have a campaign petition on insurance on his website? Because the government is refusing to do its job. When there are members of the National Party and other backbenchers out there, campaigning against the government, you really have to wonder who is listening to who. This is symptomatic of a complete breakdown of this government representing the constituencies that matter to those members opposite.

I am deeply concerned that we are not going to see the action that dairy farmers need to prevent the closure of their dairy farms. This has been a very hot topic in Far North Queensland, where I live. I do lament the frustrations of dairy farmers and the people who have written in to The Cairns Post about this. There has certainly been a lot of anger and a lot of debate about this. It is frustrating. The member for Leichhardt wrote a letter to the editor on this issue, and I want to share a response that was received from a member of that community. Jerry from Tolga says, 'For the dairy industry, he has never done anything positive.' That's what he said about the member for Leichhardt. He said:

Why didn't Warren host a meeting with Tableland dairy farmers prior to July 1,1999, when his LNP colleagues under then Prime Minister John Howard, deregulated the dairy industry.

Senator Rennick interjecting—

No good talking it out there, other people. Can you guarantee a resurrection of dairy in the Tablelands to 300-plus farmers through your so-called unwavering support? We are waiting for that miracle to happen, not fairy tales.

Senator Rennick interjecting—

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