House debates Questions without Notice
Fruit and Vegetable Industry
Gavan O'Connor Corio, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries
3:15 pm
My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and it follows the reply to the member for Calare. Is the minister aware of reports that cabinet has made a final decision to renege on the coalition’s clear election promise to introduce a mandatory code of conduct for the fruit and vegetable industry within 100 days of the 2004 election? Is the reason that the fruit and vegetable growers have not been told of this decision that you are holding back the bad news until after the Queensland state election, just as the government did during the previous Queensland election with the decision to dump sugar from the United States free trade agreement? Minister, why won’t you tell Queensland’s fruit and vegetable growers that there will be no mandatory code?
Peter McGauran Gippsland, National Party, Deputy Leader of the House
I got my hopes up when the honourable member rose to his feet; I thought I might have got a banana question, and at long last I could tap all the great Labor lies, which are continuing even to this day and which are being broadcast throughout Queensland by Premier Beattie, once and for all.
Joel Fitzgibbon Hunter, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Treasurer and Revenue
Pledge loyalty!
Peter McGauran Gippsland, National Party, Deputy Leader of the House
The honourable member even speaks about the latest import going into restaurants, which is another of Labor’s great lies.
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the House
Mr Speaker, on a point of order: notwithstanding the minister’s obsession with bananas, this is a very clear question under standing order 104. I ask you to—
David Hawker Speaker
The member for Grandler will resume his seat. The minister has only begun his answer. I call the minister.
Joel Fitzgibbon Hunter, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Treasurer and Revenue
Are you for the National Party or for bananas?
Peter McGauran Gippsland, National Party, Deputy Leader of the House
This matter, as I say, is under continuing deliberation within the cabinet and within the government; I have nothing further to add to my previous answer.