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

Thank you, Senator Brockman. I'm glad that, at last, someone from the opposition has asked a question about agriculture in question time. I think February was the last time anyone in the opposition asked a question about agriculture.

An honourable senator: But not the National Party.

Not the National party. So well done to the Liberal Party for taking an interest in agriculture. Senator Brockman, I know this is an issue you have a deep interest in. As you are probably aware, I met today and yesterday with delegations of sheep producers from Western Australia, which I think probably takes to well over a dozen now the number of times that I've met with representatives of the sheep industry, the export industry and all other parts of the supply chain. As I've said from the very first time I met with those representatives, about three weeks after the election, we will be delivering our election commitment, but we will be doing it in an orderly way, based on advice from the independent panel that I appointed to provide advice and recommendations on how and over what time frame that transition should occur.

I know, having met with the panel again recently, which no-one over there has done, that these are matters that the panel is giving consideration to. The panel is giving consideration to these very issues. The panel is giving consideration to how this policy should be implemented.