Meryl Swanson (Paterson, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I referred to when the Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, became the Prime Minister in August last year. He went to South-West Quilpie. I want to talk about when he was in Quilpie. He stood up and he talked about how dire things were in Quilpie and then he was asked about drought relief and drought recovery, which was good. He talked about those two things. But then he was asked about climate change and he said:

I don't think that's part of this debate. ... It’s not a debate I’ve participated a lot in in the past because I’m practically interested in the policies that will address what is going on here right and now.

That is my point. Last August, the Prime Minister was talking about 'here and now', and yet last night, here in this chamber, in this parliament, he put through a bill touting to help farmers right here, right now. The money won't be drawn down until next July and you still don't know what you're going to spend it on. I beg the farmers, the fibre producers and the food producers of this country: do not be hoodwinked by this faux farming government. They do not have your best interests at heart. They have not produced a good policy. This is not drought relief. They are not helping you today and they won't help you tomorrow. Shame on this government. They are a terrible indictment on the farming communities of Australia.

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