Perin Davey (NSW, National Party, Shadow Minister for Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minster for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Minister Watt. There are thousands of farmers rallying at Parliament House today, devastated by years of the Labor government's anti-farming agenda, which, over the last two years, has scrapped live sheep exports and the ag visa; slapped farmers with a fresh food tax, a truckie tax, a ute tax, and a superannuation tax on family farms; forced water buybacks; caused ballooning electricity bills; and cut or delayed regional infrastructure funding. How will the Albanese Labor government policies do anything other than punish regional Australia and the farmers who feed our nation while further driving up the cost of living for all Australian families?

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

Senator Davey, Senator McCarthy is the representing minister. I note that you put the question to Senator Watt. It's really up to you.

Perin Davey (NSW, National Party, Shadow Minister for Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm happy for it to go to the relevant representing minister, Senator McCarthy.

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We are concerned, obviously, for all Australians, and that certainly does mean our producers and our farmers right across the country, and we certainly acknowledge the 400 protesters who gathered out there today. As Senator Wong said in her response to the previous question, we certainly had—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Senator Wong?

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

They're still going; they're still going.

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Order!

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

Are you able just to stop? I am saying, on a point of order—

The:

Minister, please resume your seat. Senator Cash, just prior to Senator Davey getting on her feet, I reminded you that, when I called 'Order!', it applied to you. I will advise you that I will use standing order 203. If you don't agree with the response a minister makes, then that is what taking note of answers is for or, indeed, the open-ended adjournment. It is not an opportunity for you to continue to interject across the chamber. Minister McCarthy.

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, President, and I will address that for a moment. This isn't the concern about the hundreds of people who are out the front—

Opposition senators interjecting—

No, no—in terms of numbers, Senator Cash, what I was saying, which none of you have picked up on, is that we are concerned about all Australians, especially those on the land.

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Minister McCarthy, please resume your seat.

Opposition senators interjecting—

Order! Order! If you can't remain silent, I invite you to leave the chamber. That goes for Senator McGrath, Senator O'Sullivan and Senator Davey. Minister McCarthy, please continue.

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, President, and I do urge the opposition to give me a chance to respond here. We are very, very concerned about all Australians, including our farming sector. The Albanese Labor government is committed to a robust, sustainable ag industry that continues to thrive in Australia. Since coming to government in 2022, we've been delivering for Australian farmers and producers by strengthening biosecurity, boosting the ag workforce, opening new trade opportunities and improving farm sustainability. We've delivered over $3 billion in extra funding for agriculture since taking office. Despite the tight fiscal environment we find ourselves in, we're getting on with the job of fixing what the previous coalition government failed or couldn't be bothered to do, fixing the $100 million black hole left in the biosecurity budget, and we're actually taking action on climate change and helping industry meet its own climate targets after 10 years of denial from those opposite.

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

Senator Davey, first supplementary?

Perin Davey (NSW, National Party, Shadow Minister for Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, recent data from the MDBA shows that water diversions are now 23 per cent below sustainable diversion limits, yet the Labor government is continuing to prioritise buybacks out of farming communities. Why does the Labor government only look at buybacks as a solution and ignore real degradation drivers like European carp? When will the government listen to farmers rather than act against them?

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

A point of order: that relates to a policy area that is not in the agriculture portfolio. It's in—

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

Senator Ruston!

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

She's very upset today.

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

Thank you, Minister Wong. I think Senator Birmingham also has a point of order if you've finished yours.

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

With respect, what I'd ask the senator to consider, if she wants to recast her supplementary question, is that buybacks are clearly not the responsibility of the agriculture portfolio.

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

On the point of order, President: Senator Davey's primary question referenced a number of impacts on farming communities, and she identified water buybacks as one of those impacts in the primary question. This is a supplementary question going into that issue. The idea that water buybacks do not have an impact on the agriculture portfolio is preposterous. They may not be the direct responsibility of the agriculture portfolio, but that is like suggesting that industry policy doesn't impact the Treasury portfolio—

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

Thank you, Senator Birmingham.

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

or a range of other areas with the impacts on industry—

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

Senator Birmingham, please resume your seat. Senator Wong, I'm intending to respond.

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

The question related specifically to sustainable diversion limits. That is very clearly a matter not within this portfolio and cannot possibly be addressed to this minister.

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

Order! Senator Birmingham, order! I am advised by the Clerk that Senator Davey should be given the opportunity to recast her question and link it to—

Senator Birmingham, you are not in a debate with me. I'm ruling on a point of order. Senator Davey, I invite you to recast your question and link it to agriculture.

Perin Davey (NSW, National Party, Shadow Minister for Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

With pleasure. Minister, recent MDBA data shows that irrigation farmers in the Murray-Darling Basin are using well below what have been identified as sustainable diversion limits, yet your government continues to buy water from them, negatively impacting their communities. Why don't you listen to the farmers and review your policies on how you treat irrigation farmers?

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do believe, as Senator Wong has said, that this part of this question does go to a fellow minister.

Dave Sharma (NSW, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Irrigation farmers!

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Please let me finish.

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Order!

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If I may finish, I would like to make reference to the question itself in terms of correcting Senator Davey—that we are not only buying back water; we are funding water infrastructure and water efficiency projects, Senator Davey, and you know that. And Mr Littleproud knows that. In fact, I don't think he's got that great a record either. I understand that he wasn't that welcome there today by the farmers in terms of the water as well.

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

Senator McGrath, order!

Order!

Order! Senator McGrath, I've called you to order three times; you ignored me. I remind you as well of standing order 203.

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I was saying, other than other things that the opposition have said, it was noticed that the farmers were not happy with the Leader of the Nationals, either. So I suspect— (Time expired)

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

Senator Davey, second supplementary?

Perin Davey (NSW, National Party, Shadow Minister for Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, Australian farmers have now seen their pea contracts cut by 34 per cent because Coles is importing peas from overseas. Similar things have been faced by SPC in Shepparton when the big supermarkets purchased imported fruits for their tinned fruits. Why are our farmers always getting done over under Labor? Is it any wonder that the farmers are at the front of Parliament House rallying today?

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We know that people can hold protests—it is a democracy in this country—but I will correct Senator Davey. We have been doing a tremendous amount in this area, and, as I've outlined already in my previous responses, we've also been fixing the APVMA after it became a dysfunctional mess at the hands of Barnaby. The source moved to Armidale. The opposition spent almost a decade neglecting and eroding our trade relationships. They destroyed—

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

Minister McCarthy, please resume your seat. Order! Minister Gallagher?

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

The behaviour of the opposition this question time is really getting to a new low. They are ignoring your direction. Minister McCarthy can't answer unless she is shouting. You should come to order.

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

Thank you, Minister Gallagher. I'm sure that you have witnessed that I am doing my very best. I have reminded particular senators of standing order 203, and I will request that, for the remainder of the minister's question, people listen in silence.

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, President. I have to say some of the things I just said, just in case they didn't hear it. The opposition spent almost a decade neglecting and eroding our trade relationships. They destroyed the relationship with our biggest trading partner, which our government has restored. We've opened new trade opportunities that allow the industry to continue to grow and remain competitive, and agricultural exports are now more diversified than ever, thanks to the Albanese Labor government.