Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Watt. I refer the government to the report by the Grattan Institute Fuelling budget repair: how to reform fuel taxes for business, which recommends reducing the fuel tax credit for off-road use. Does the minister acknowledge the importance of the diesel fuel rebate to Australia's heavy-vehicle industry, farmers, fishers, forestry operators and the resources sectors, which are all producing the food, fibre and minerals needed to support the national economy? And can he provide an assurance to the agricultural sector in particular that the government will rule out any changes to the diesel fuel rebate?

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

Thank you, Senator McKenzie. The short answers to your questions are: yes and yes. The longer version is that, yes, I do recognise the importance of this payment and rebate for farmers. It is an important way for farmers to manage their budgets. For that reason, I can confirm that this government has no intention whatsoever of getting rid of it. I recognise that the Grattan Institute has made that suggestion, but we have categorically ruled it out, both I and the Prime Minister.

May I recommend my Twitter feed to Senator McKenzie. It's a very worthwhile resource where people interested in agriculture can find all sorts of information. I direct Senator McKenzie in particular to a tweet I did not today, not yesterday, not the day before but on Monday in response to Mr Littleproud's comments on this matter. My tweet says:

Another day, another baseless scare campaign from David Littleproud. Changes to the fuel tax credit are not on the Government's agenda. We're not ending the weekend, we're not ending the backyard BBQ and we're not ending this either. Poor David.

I guess I should probably add on this occasion: 'Poor Senator McKenzie.'

The information has been out there in the public domain for four days, where I ruled it out and the Prime Minister ruled it out. I've also done ABC Capricornia—a radio station I recommend you listen to as well, Senator McKenzie and all of your colleagues. So I have ruled it out repeatedly, but, if you haven't caught up with that fact, maybe you're a little bit behind the times. It's not happening; it never was happening. It was a David Littleproud idea, and guess what? Yet again he's wrong.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Watt, I do remind you, when referring to people in the other place, to use their correct titles. Senator McKenzie, first supplementary?

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It will come as no surprise to Senator Watt that his Twitter feed is not something I wake up and read every single morning. I, too, give a huge shout-out to ABC Capricornia. This is my first supplementary. I refer to the reliance of Australia's fishing fleet on the fuel tax credit scheme and their vessels to catch—

Sarah Henderson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Communications) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Eight seconds.

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm not sure that I had a minute to ask. I want the fishing industry's fuel credits also guaranteed. (Time expired)

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

In my experience, usually when you're in a hole you stop digging. I have made it clear now through Twitter, through ABC Capricornia, through other media outlets and through answering a question in the Senate chamber that touching the diesel fuel rebate is not on this government's agenda. We are not considering it. We are not working on it. That applies to farmers, to fishers, to foresters and to anyone else who takes advantage of this. So that is not on our agenda, and, again, this has been a matter of public record for three or four days. I'm a little concerned that Senator McKenzie and her team aren't keeping up to date with what announcements and commitments the government has made and, instead, choose to perpetuate these scare campaigns day after day.

I'll tell you one other thing about fishers and farmers. They have welcomed the cooperative approach from the Albanese government in dealing with them. I have lost count of the number of farm groups, fisher groups and other groups who have made the point that they welcome a government that's actually collaborating with them, listening to them and not lecturing them. (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McKenzie, a second supplementary?

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The viability of many agricultural economies is enhanced by the contribution of the mining industry, which directly employs over 285,000 skilled workers. Given the importance of the resources industries, will the minister provide an assurance that the government will retain the fuel tax credit scheme in its current form for the resources industry?

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

Thank you, Senator McKenzie. I'm not the Minister representing the Minister for Resources, but I'm happy to refer you to my previous answer to your previous question, and the one before that as well, and my tweets, my ABC Radio interviews and all of my other interviews, where I've said that we are not considering this matter and, as many times as you might like to say so in whatever way—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister Watt, please resume your seat. Senator McKenzie.

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I raise a point of order on relevance. The minister, in his previous answer to my first supplementary, talked about—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator McKenzie. I listened very carefully. I'd ask you to resume your seat. You've pointed me to relevance, and the minister is being relevant. Please continue, Minister.

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

We are not considering any changes to the diesel fuel rebate as it applies to any industry whatsoever. I'm afraid that this will go down in the big rubbish bin that is overflowing with National Party scare campaigns, along with $100 lamb roasts, the signing of the methane pledge ending the backyard barbecue, the ending of the weekend—what else? We were going to wipe out Whyalla. I'm pretty sure it's still on the map, Senator Grogan; you were there recently. There must be some more that I've forgotten. The National Party are constantly full of it, and country people have worked them out.