Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Today the President of the National Farmers Federation has called on the government to adopt Labor's position on the backpacker tax, stating: 'Do the deal today. Do what it takes to get a deal done.'

Honourable Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister for agriculture and assorted others, including the Leader of the House, will cease interjecting. I cannot hear the question. The Leader of the Opposition will begin again.

Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is still to the Prime Minister. Today the President of the National Farmers Federation has called on the government to adopt Labor's position on the backpacker tax, stating: 'Do the deal today. Do what it takes to get the deal done. Do the deal. Do a deal.' Is the Prime Minister seriously going to inflict a 32½ per cent backpacker tax on rural and regional Australia because he is too arrogant to sign up to Labor's sensible compromise?

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

One thing the Leader of the Opposition could not do very well is play poker. He could not stop smiling as he laughed at the foolishness of his question. The sheer satire of presenting Labor's latest position as Labor's policy. Labor only a few hours ago were wanting to have a tax of 10½ per cent. Now they have swung in behind Senator Lambie on their policy agenda. As for the National Farmers Federation, the Deputy Prime Minister can address the House.

Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The NFF have never, ever said to adopt Labor's position.

Ms Butler interjecting—

In fact, you should actually go out and correct the record because the NFF have never said we should adopt Labor's position.

Ms Butler interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Griffith is warned.

Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yet this is another example of the character of the person who wishes to be the future Prime Minister of Australia. It shows yet another example of how we cannot trust the Leader of the Opposition. It shows us yet another example of his lubricious, vexatious form of politics. He does it with a swarmy smile on his face. He thinks it is all a big joke. He thinks it is all a big joke, like what they did to the live cattle trade. One big joke is probably what they are going to do to the horticultural industry. This is the contemptuous approach of the Labor Party. When they talk about it it is all about a number. They say it must be a number. I can tell you what you have moved. You have moved from 10½ per cent to 13 per cent—that is, 2½ per cent. We have moved from 32½ per cent to 15 per cent—17½ per cent. Yet all the time all you try to do is destroy. You are a wrecker. You want to destroy. You are not worthy of the highest office. You completely and utterly mislead this House time and time and time again. Well the Australian people are watching you with your swarmy looks, your swarmy little press conferences and your smile. It is all just a joke. It does not matter. It is just other peoples' jobs. And at the heart of this, what is it? What does he stand behind? He stands behind having a worse rate for Australian workers—

Ms Catherine King interjecting—

Australian workers actually discriminated against—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Ballarat is warned.

Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Are these the earnest actions of a former trade union leader? Is that who you are? Is that what you have become? Do you stand by that? Do you stand by every word of what you have just said in that question? Do you, Leader of the Opposition? I challenge you to say, 'I stand by every word that I just said.' Tell us that what you just said was the truth.

Honourable members interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Franklin is warned.