Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

As I was saying, conservative governments over the years have had a very proud relationship with our agricultural sector, and this government is no exception. We will stand side by side with our farming sector through tough times to make sure that we continue to roll out programs that will support the huge contribution that the Australian agricultural sector makes to our economy. As an example, through the coronavirus pandemic, the government announced a $328 million Busting Congestion for Agricultural Exporters package to grow our food and fibre exports. From day one of the pandemic, the government recognised the pivotal role that agriculture would play and particularly the pivotal role that agriculture will play in the economic recovery. We've made sure not just that we look after the agricultural sector itself but that our supply chains remain open and safe, making sure that our access to the rest of the world remains in place by, for instance, addressing the airfreight shortages and the disrupted supply chains overseas through the International Freight Assistance Mechanism put in place by Senator Birmingham. We stand side by side with our farmers.