David Littleproud (Maranoa, National Party, Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources) Share this | Hansard source

To respond to the member for Hunter's question about sharing information with the WA minister around the Awassi Express incident: there were limitations with respect to the export legislation, as I understand. In fact, I've now given orders for that to be changed, in the light of that. That has happened. But—

Mr Fitzgibbon interjecting—

No, it's effective as of 1 July. But let me make this clear: the department, as the regulator, has to perceive a degree of confidentiality in terms of the information of the investigation that it's undertaking. It's only natural. It's a good thing. That allows a proper prosecution to take place, if one is to take place. But here's the kicker. At no point—at no point—did I ever get a formal request from Alannah MacTiernan, the Western Australian Minister for Agriculture and Food, for sharing information. This is a stunt. This is nothing more than a political stunt.

The member for Hunter said that he was here in a bipartisan way to help us work through this export industry situation that we're in. Well, here's your opportunity. Don't play politics. Alannah MacTiernan has lost her way on this. She's overreached, she doesn't understand the powers of state and federal governments. The reality is that this is nothing more than a cheap stunt. She's never written to me. In fact, the only thing that she's asked for was some cooperation. Do you know what we did? We wrote back and gave her the process under FOI in which to get the information, so she got the cooperation. There are restrictions around law. Is the alternative agriculture minister saying that he would ignore the law? Is that what he's saying? You can't be the minister and flout the law. That is what is in front of me. This is nothing more than a stunt. It's a shame that it's transcended into this. I thought the member for Hunter was smarter than to tie his boat to the Western Australian agriculture minister. The reality is: you have been misled, unfortunately.

Can I also say, just to answer the member for Barker's question—

An opposition member interjecting—

It is a poignant question. We are at crossroads, but we are making steps. We're engaging with Horticulture Australia and the NFF to ensure that we get the settings right. Obviously I have to engage with other agencies to make sure that we get the settings right with Home Affairs and Michaelia Cash in workforce planning. We are working in a strategic way, but what we need is the science. The investment in the budget will go towards getting that science to make sure the decisions that we make are predicated on science. Unfortunately, those opposite have left that behind recently. They've gone on emotion, not science.

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