Raff Ciccone (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm really excited to be asking my question today, and I'm excited because I'm the first senator to ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry a question on Australia's agriculture industry. Minister, I've learnt that Australia has never had sustainable and predictable biosecurity funding, and last night's budget marked a historic moment for Australia's agriculture industry, with the Albanese government delivering—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Order! Senator Ciccone, please resume your seat. Order on my left! I can barely hear the question. Senator Ciccone, please continue.

Raff Ciccone (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That's alright, President. Thank you. The excitement! I can't hold myself! But, as I was saying, last night the Albanese-Labor government marked a historic moment: the first time that the government is investing in our agriculture industry, delivering sustainable funding for biosecurity. So, Minister, could you please explain to the Senate how the budget delivers on the government's election commitment to provide sustainable long-term funding to biosecurity to protect our $90 billion agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries?

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

Well, Senator Ciccone, the only thing that I think tops the level of excitement you have in asking that question is my excitement in answering the question. It is good to get a question from a senator about agriculture. It would appear the National Party have completely vacated the field.

This morning a new era dawned for Australian agriculture. For the first time ever, Australia has a sustainable biosecurity funding model. This will be a lasting Labor legacy of the Albanese government in the Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry portfolio, something that not one, not two and not three—all recycled—agriculture ministers from the National Party were ever able to achieve. The Albanese government is locking in higher, ongoing and more predictable biosecurity funding from year to year. We have drawn a line under years of stopgap temporary funding from coalition governments that put our agriculture industry at risk.

This decision of the Albanese government in last night's budget will result in more than $1 billion of additional funding for biosecurity, including $845 million to support biosecurity operations across the country, protecting our valuable agricultural industries. Isn't it good that at last we've got a Labor government standing up for our agriculture sector and biosecurity, rather than the mess we inherited from the other side?

Now, how will we pay for this? This is a good question. Importers will contribute about 48 per cent of the total cost through their clearance costs, with increased fees and charges expected to take their total contribution to biosecurity costs to almost $390 million from next year. This includes expanded cost recovery to include the biosecurity clearance costs of parcels and non-letter mail. We know the other side didn't want to pass on the costs of these services to industry, and that's why they were on the verge of bankrupting the Department of Agriculture, until we took charge. Taxpayers will contribute about 44 per cent of the total funding, about $350 million, and we'll also introduce a modest new biosecurity protection levy on agriculture producers, which will see them contribute six per cent— (Time expired)

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

Senator Ciccone, a first supplementary?

Raff Ciccone (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, thank you very much for that answer. As we know, sadly this government has had to fund the department. Otherwise, it would have been defunded. But could you please explain to the Senate why it is important that all beneficiaries of a strong biosecurity system need to contribute to funding the certainty for that system in order to make sure that our farmers have certainty in the long term?

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

Thank you, Senator Ciccone. I'd be delighted to do so. As I say, biosecurity is a shared responsibility. What that means, under our new funding system, is that importers will contribute about 48 per cent of the total cost of biosecurity and taxpayers will contribute about 44 per cent, with producers being asked to pay a modest six per cent of the cost of biosecurity protections that will stop them from adding devastating diseases that will destroy their crops and destroy their livelihoods.

As we know, we are not the only people who think biosecurity is a shared responsibility. I note that this view attracted support in the consultation process that we undertook last year. The Cattle Council of Australia, as it was known at the time, said that biosecurity is a shared responsibility and that, for our biosecurity measures to be most effective, all parties must contribute. The National Farmers' Federation said that biosecurity is a shared responsibility and that, as such, all biosecurity beneficiaries, including the community, the economy at large, the agricultural sector and the environment, should invest in biosecurity activities. We will finally have sustainable biosecurity funding. (Time expired)

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

Senator Ciccone, a second supplementary?

Raff Ciccone (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is great. Thank you, Senator Sterle. The Australian community and farmers benefit so much from our favourable biosecurity status. Minister, what are the benefits for our agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries of a sustainable funding model?

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

Thank you again, Senator Ciccone. Well, our landmark sustainable funding model for biosecurity will provide certainty and security for the Australian agricultural industry.

Opposition Senator:

An opposition senator interjecting—

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

It is a landmark, and it is historic, because it never happened once under the 10 years of coalition government. But you don't have to take my word for it. Today I see that the Australian Fresh Produce Alliance have said that the additional funding is welcome and will strengthen Australia's biosecurity to help ensure that our nation is better protected. In contrast, the Liberal and National parties had nine long years but did nothing to secure permanent, sustainable, long-term funding for biosecurity. But their incompetence on these matters went beyond that. A conga line of incompetent and economically illiterate National Party agricultural ministers left us with funding cliffs in vital frontline areas that would have seen biosecurity funding fall by nearly 20 per cent this year if we hadn't acted. They failed to maintain the integrity of cost recovery. They said they'd introduce a container levy. They backed down under pressure, and then they went out to set up the department to explain it. And let's not forget about the Ruby Princess and all the other biosecurity disasters under that lot. (Time expired)

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Finance, Senator Gallagher. Minister, middle-class families with surging mortgage payments, surging grocery bills and surging energy costs have little to celebrate in last night's budget. Labor's budget confirms that cost-of-living continues to go up, gas and electricity bills continue to skyrocket, real wages have not grown, inflation remains stubbornly high, unemployment will rise, and Australians will pay higher taxes. Given that under Labor's budget a family with kids will be around $25,000 worse off, why is Labor making life harder for middle-class Australians?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Cash for the question, and I completely reject the numbers she has outlined.

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

Senator Sterle and Senator Cash, interjections across the chamber are disorderly. Minister Gallagher.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I think the opposition have had to dust off the dodgy calculator that they used to put budgets together in the past, to come up with this set of numbers that they keep shouting across the chamber. This budget is a very strong budget for all Australians. We don't seek to divide as they do. We don't seek to carve up the country into a series of demographics and different age groups and different income groups. We make decisions on what is right for the country based on the economic circumstances of the time. That is why the cost-of-living package is targeted.

But here are some things in the budget that they did not take into account. We have the fastest wage growth since 2009. Real wages are growing, with a historic lift in wages for aged-care workers. How about that? What about the low unemployment? More people are earning more in more jobs.

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Minister Gallagher, please resume your seat.

Order, Senator Wong! Again, the interjections and the disorder on particularly my left but also on my right are disorderly. The minister is entitled to have her answers heard in silence. I would ask that interjections cease. Minister Gallagher, please continue.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We're building more homes—what about that? What about build to rent? What about the programs that we are doing there? For the first time in a decade the Commonwealth is engaged on housing policy—shock, horror!

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Minister Gallagher, please resume your seat. I just called the chamber to order and the minute the minister got to her feet again the disorder continued.

Order, Senator Ruston! Minister Gallagher, please continue.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The work that we did put in place caps on energy prices that they voted against. Look at what it says in the budget paper—a 25 per cent reduction in what people will spend on their energy bills. They voted against it. What about the jobs to be generated in the energy transition to a net zero economy and the investments we are making to drive those opportunities? What about them? They voted no to those as well.

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Order! There are many opportunities across this week for senators to have a say on the budget or any other matter. Question time is not one of them unless you are one of the people that is asking a question.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Our investment in child care will start on 1 July. Again, we're helping households across Australia. There are a number of measures in this budget that are targeted to help people— (Time expired)

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

Senator Cash, a first supplementary question?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On the Today show this morning, Corey from Perth, a mortgage holder with a family, had this message for the Prime Minister regarding last night's budget: 'The government's not listening. They're not caring. They don't. And this budget proves that they don't care if you work. They say, "We're just going to slog you harder," and that's the way they want it.' Given that under Labor's budget a family with kids will be around $25,000 worse off, why is Labor making it harder for Australians like Corey?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I haven't had the opportunity to speak with Corey, and I didn't hear what he said on the Today show. But I am happy to go through it, as I did in my previous answer. Our investment in child care will help people on middle incomes. In fact, I think we are being criticised for the fact that it is going to people on what they see as too-high incomes.

Our investments in TAFE and our investments in the net zero economy are driving jobs and putting the budget on a more sustainable footing, borrowing less and paying less—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Minister, please resume your seat. Order on my left! Minister Gallagher, please continue.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There are the extensions to Paid Parental Leave. I could go on. There's the energy efficiency fund that's going to be established under Jenny McAllister's leadership.

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Minister Wong on a point of order?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's a robust contest, but this answer has not yet had any period without interjections—not one. I've left it a long time. I would ask you to call them to order.

Opposition senators interjecting—

And again!

The:

Order! Senator Ruston!

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

'Sorry, mum'—this is how you're going to treat women? Really?

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Order across the chamber! Senator Ruston, I am going to ask you to withdraw.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw.

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

Thank you. The chamber has been disorderly. I appreciate that people have questions to ask, but, when a question is asked, we are all entitled to hear the answer. I'm asking for order in this chamber and for all senators to be respectful of one another. Minister Gallagher, please continue.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, President. On wages growth, on jobs growth and on the budget repair strategy that we put in place to ensure that we're borrowing less money and paying less interest on that debt—it's all part of the approach that we've taken in this budget. That benefits all Australians. The tripling of the bulk-billing rate benefits all Australians, making sure the investments in Medicare work for everybody— (Time expired)

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

Senator Cash, a second supplementary?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On Sydney radio this morning, another working Australian had this message regarding Labor's budget: 'Once again, the workers who carry this country get screwed over. My wages have been going in one direction—backwards. Jim Chalmers has no clue of the day-to-day reality. We're under the pump, we work, we pay full taxes and we get nothing.' Again—

Government Senators:

Government senators interjecting—

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

Order! Just a moment, Senator Birmingham, I will come back to you, but I want to deal with other things first. Senator McKenzie, you were out of order.

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I raise a point of order in relation to interjections. You just had Senator Wong, during the previous answer, provide commentary of concern about continuous interjections. We've seen nothing but continuous interjections coming directly from Senator Wong during the bulk of the 23 seconds that Senator Cash has been attempting to ask this question.

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

I am more than willing to pull up individual senators for the behaviour. You would have heard that I did call Senator Wong to order before you stood, and I appreciate your point of order, but I would reiterate that there have been many interjections today, many points of disorder, from a range of senators. I take the point on Senator Wong. I called Senator Wong to order. I would expect, when Senator Cash finishes her question, that all senators in this place will listen to the answer in respectful silence. Senator Cash, I'm going to ask you to start your question again, and I don't want to hear any interjections.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On Sydney radio this morning, another working Australian had this message regarding Labor's budget: 'Once again, the workers who carry this country get screwed over. My wages have been going in one direction—backwards. Jim Chalmers has no clue of the day-to-day reality. We're under the pump, we work, we pay full taxes and we get nothing.' Again, why is Labor making life harder for middle-class Australians?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

GALLAGHER (—) (): I don't accept that question at all. I don't accept it, and I think if people see the budget in its entirety—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Senator Gallagher, please resume your seat.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Why won't you let Goldilocks answer!

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

I have just asked the Senate to listen in respectful silence. Senator Cash was able to ask her question in respectful silence. I'm now asking all of you in here to listen to the answer, whether you agree with it or not, in respectful silence. Minister, please continue.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Cash's question included a reference to the young man's wages and how he had been feeling the pinch on wages. We agree. That's why we put the industrial relations changes through this parliament, with the more jobs, better pay bill. You opposed it. You opposed improvements to the industrial relations system that would allow workers to have a better crack at wage opportunities through the bargaining system. You've opposed our position on arguing for wages growth on the minimum wage, through our minimum wage cases. You didn't make the commitment to fund the aged-care workers wage claim—15 per cent in this budget found room for it on top of all the other things we had to do. We're absolutely determined to get wages moving, and this budget shows that we will have real wages growth, faster than had previously been expected. (Time expired)

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.