David Gillespie (Lyne, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would like to take this opportunity to thank a number of people from the Lyne electorate in the agricultural sector who participated in a number of forums last week. On Wednesday, the Minister for Agriculture and I visited Neals Dairy farm on Oxley Island and met with a number of local dairy producers who produce about 30 million litres of milk between them: Mike Blacklock, Ben and Scott Hurrell, Julian Biega, Luke Cleary, Adrian Drury, Graham Forbes, Mark Harris and James Neal. We discussed a broad range of issues, including the benefits and opportunities that will flow from the new China-Australia free trade agreement as well as our commitment reduce red tape. The minister really appreciated all the meaningful and helpful suggestions that they brought forward so that we could pursue better ways to improve returns at the farm gate.

Later, in Port Macquarie, the minister and I co-chaired an agricultural roundtable attended by local farmers and producers, including John and Sue Hannaford, Steve and Leonie Gale, Michael and Jenny Hurrell, Rodney Fisher, John Cassegrain, Jim Mobbs, Phil Morton, Alex Matuszny, Tony Sarks, Mark Bulley, Trevor Sergeant, Grant Coleman, Gordon Burch and David and Carolyn Duff, representing the beef, dairy, eggs, avocado, wine, fisheries oyster, tomato and strawberry industries. Again, they all had brilliant suggestions for the minister to employ in his portfolio. (Time expired)