Kim Beazley (Brand, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister. Haven’t the Deputy Prime Minister’s actions today been all about protecting the government rather than protecting the interests of wheat farmers, who have suffered as a result of six years of the government turning a blind eye to the ‘wheat for weapons’ scandal? Isn’t it the case that, as a result of the government’s failure to act on at least 14 warnings, Australian wheat farmers are now paying the price, our bargaining position in trade negotiations has been undermined and our reputation as an honest player has been trashed? Does the Deputy Prime Minister continue to accept no responsibility for this state of affairs whatsoever? When is he going to do the right thing and beg for forgiveness from the hardworking wheat farmers that he has let down so badly?

Mark Vaile (Lyne, National Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The answer to the first series of questions that the Leader of the Opposition raised is no. When am I going to talk to wheat growers? I am going to talk to wheat growers tomorrow morning here and next week in Victoria. The question is: when are you going to talk to wheat growers? When is he going to talk to wheat growers about the problems that he is creating by elevating this issue in the public arena?

John Howard (Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.