Malcolm Roberts (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As a servant to the people of Queensland and Australia, my question is to the Minister for Agriculture through his representative in the Senate, Senator McKenzie. In 1996, the Liberal Party under John Howard decided to destroy farmers' property rights. It did so with the National Party's support. The two parties introduced draconian tree-clearing laws aimed to get Australia's compliance with the UN's Kyoto protocol. The UN's Kyoto protocol was an earlier version of the UN's Paris agreement, designed to reduce the output of harmless carbon dioxide. The human Liberal-National government was unwilling to artificially increase the price of energy to cut industrial CO2 output through climate regulations, so instead decided to remove the rights of farmers to manage their own land. Does the National Party still support the Howard Liberal-Nationals' decision to remove farmers' property rights?

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The National Party stands with Australian farmers to support their property rights. We're very proud to be able to do that at a state level, as has been indicated by LNP state members of parliament in your home state of Queensland, Senator Roberts. They are fighting against the native vegetation legislation that the Palaszczuk government seems so intent on sticking with and the impact it's having on the primary producers in your home state.

It was quite a long preamble; there was a lot in there. I'm very happy to outline our government's approach to climate change and the impacts on agriculture. I'm very happy to outline how energy costs affect our primary producers and our food processing sector, which you know employs hundreds of thousands of Australians, predominantly in rural and regional Australia. But if the essence of your question is if the National Party stands with our Australian farmers to protect their property rights: yes, we do.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Roberts, a supplementary question?

Malcolm Roberts (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That's very interesting from Senator McKenzie, because, to get around section 51(xxxi) of the Australian Constitution, it requires just terms of compensation. John Howard, with the support of former Queensland Nationals Premier Rob Borbidge and the former NSW Labor Premier Bob Carr, introduced legislated theft of farmers' property rights using the guise of native vegetation protection legislation. These laws stole farmers' property rights. Do you support the removal of farmers' property rights without just terms of compensation?

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Bernardi on point of order?

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

As it's directly relevant, could we add a happy birthday to the former Prime Minister John Howard?

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McKenzie.

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On that point of order, Mr President, obviously the National Party would like to say happy birthday to former Prime Minister Howard as well, and thank you for raising it.

Look, I can't be clearer, Senator Roberts, that our party, and indeed our government, supports our farmers' right to farm. It's actually why we're introducing the Criminal Code amendment on agricultural production to ensure farmers aren't going to be subjected to agriterrorists and agri-activists seeking to go on farm and disrupt people's lawful way of doing business. Our state members of parliament, I know, have been very strong in prosecuting the case against the native vegetation legislation arrangements in your home state of Queensland and they will continue to do so.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Roberts, a final supplementary question.

Malcolm Roberts (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator, whether it is the UN's Kyoto protocol, the UN's Paris agreement, the UN's Lima declaration, the UN's Rio declaration for 21st century global governance or open borders, immigration treaties, anti-Western human rights obligations and many other voluntary obligations to the UN, why does the Liberal-National coalition join with Labor and the Greens to continue put the agenda of the socialist United Nations ahead of the sovereignty, rights and freedoms of Australians?

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

One of the aspects of the United Nations regime is the setting up of the Food and Agricultue Organization in Rome which sees its role as uniting agricultural-producing nations like Australia and from around the world to tackle hunger and food security and using science to actually do it. It's a fantastic example of countries working together, like Australia, to use our expertise in primary production, and our expertise in science and innovation in this space to contribute to global hunger. So, I'm very proud of our government's commitment to always pursuing the national interest.

Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of order: I don't think the question's been answered correctly. I suggest that the minister take the question on notice, because she doesn't clearly understand—

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Hanson—

Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

the difference between—

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Hanson, please resume your seat. I can't direct a minister how to answer a question. If you're raising a point of order on direct relevance you are free to, but I can't direct a minister how to answer the question. It was very broadly worded, and I think the minister is in order in the way she is addressing it. Senator McKenzie.

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you. In answer to your question, our government always acts in the national interest and we make no apologies for doing so.