Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for his question. I note that he more than most, having also been in the transport business, understands what this means, what it means to be an owner-operator. It is great to see owner-operators here today. I note the Welshes from Kootingal in the gallery at the moment and other owner-operators and their wives and their partners who have to deal with all the trials and tribulations of making those payments, making the lease payments, making the insurance payments, making the registration payments and making the payments to the fuel distributor and to the mechanics. They keep the economy of the local towns going. They are the sorts of owner-operators who go out to towns like Monto, Bilo and Jambin and make their way up the dirt roads behind Weabonga and out into the western districts. They are the kinds of owner-operators that keep this nation's economy going. They are the owner-operators for whom today we introduce a bill to remove this incredible impost.

Mr Dreyfus interjecting—

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