Louise Pratt (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Ludwig. Can the minister outline to the Senate the importance of investment in rural research and development? Further, what is the government doing to support rural research and development and are there alternative positions?

Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Pratt for her continued interest in agriculture, unlike those opposite. The Gillard government is a strong—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Those opposite just make—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Ludwig, ignore the interjections on both sides.

Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Gillard government is a strong supporter of rural research and development investment. Our government has a plan for Australian agriculture, unlike those opposite. Our plan is to build on the strong foundation for farmers through our new opportunities in the Asian century and to prepare for the future. The key to that is research and development. In five budgets to date, the Gillard government has provided research and development corporations with approximately $1.1 billion and this government is a proud defender of the work that is done in research and development.

In fact, when the Productivity Commission tried to halve the research and development funding, this government rejected that. However, I cannot say the same for the coalition government, the Liberals and National parties on the other side. The Institute of Public affairs belled the cat on the savage cuts that would hit regional Australia under an Abbott government. The Liberals and Nationals are using tactics of there being a small target before the election and using groups like the IPA to develop their hit list—that is what you are doing—so you can implement the cuts should you get into government.

In response to this, the member for Calare, Mr Cobb, refused to release their policy plan for agriculture. You do not have a plan for agriculture. You have not articulated what your plan for agriculture will be. Mr Cobb said that it would be released in good time. That is hardly reassuring for farmers. The Gillard government remains committed to a strong agricultural— (Time expired)

Honourable senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Wait a minute, Senator Pratt. When there is silence, you will be heard in silence. When there is silence we will continue.

Louise Pratt (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Can the minister inform the Senate of other areas of government investment that significantly assist primary producers?

Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Pratt for her first supplementary question. The Gillard government supports new opportunities in agriculture, unlike those opposite. Our $38 billion in agricultural exports are vital to primary industries and to regional communities. These exports are supported by the Trade and Market Access branch, a very vital part of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, which looks at opening up new opportunities in market. But, under the secret list prepared by the IPA, it is important—

Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's open now!

Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Under this open, secret vow by the IPA those opposite keep trying to walk away from, but it has your fingerprints all over it—rule it out if you want to. No, you are not going to rule it out because, under that plan, trade market access would be slashed. If Senator Joyce wants to— (Time expired)

Louise Pratt (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Can the minister please outline to the Senate any risks to the government's investment in Australian agriculture, fisheries and forestry?

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Ludwig, you are lucky; sit down. When these excited people on my left are quiet, for those who want to debate it, the time is after question time. You have 17 minutes to go.

Senator Ronaldson interjecting—

Thank you, Senator Ronaldson. I do not need those forms of interjection, either. Order on both sides! In 17 minutes time you will have the opportunity to debate the answers to questions during question time, not now.

Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Pratt for her second supplementary question. We do know that Mr 'Sloppy Joe' Hockey got rolled in his party room last night—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Ludwig, you can withdraw that.

Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw that; I apologise. So he would be hungry for a win. And now he has the IPA report, he has got his hit list ready and is ready to rock 'n' roll. Why do we not hear from the National Party? Because they have signed up to it. The doormat is for the Liberal Party. Why the Liberals are now arguing and arguing loudly is because—

Government senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! I will give you the call, Senator Boswell, as I always do to people on their feet, when there is silence on my right.

Ron Boswell (Queensland, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I raise a point of order. How can you allow a question, based on an IPA report that has nothing whatsoever to do with the coalition, and allow the minister to use that report as some sort of an attack on the coalition, when IPA has nothing whatsoever to do with the coalition?

The question is based on a lie, and I ask you to pull him up and to use your authority to get some order in this place.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, on the point of order. As much a Senator Boswell might like to distance himself from it, the IPA themselves have made public that this list is being discussed with some shadow ministers. If he does not like what is on the list, he can rule it out.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! This is debating the issue. There is no point of order. Minister, you have 25 seconds remaining.

Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Of course, this list is really a hit list against regional Australia. If you look at the way it is going to be followed they can find some comfort from this, particularly from Premier Campbell Newman in Queensland, because their plan was very similar. They first said nothing. In fact, we all remember Premier Campbell Newman saying that the Public Service had nothing to fear. (Time expired)