Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and International Security) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Trade, as one of the best friends that Saddam Hussein ever had.

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The member for Griffith will come to his question or resume his seat.

Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and International Security) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can the trade minister confirm that Australia’s wheat exports to Iraq have fallen by 50 per cent over the last financial year to 715,000 tonnes? Can the minister also confirm that, over the same period, wheat exports from the United States to Iraq have increased by 300 per cent to 2.3 million tonnes? Does the minister accept any responsibility for this kick in the guts to Australia’s hardworking wheat farmers arising from his presiding over the $300 million wheat for weapons scandal?

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The last part of that question is unnecessary and out of order.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Where in standing orders do you have the right to rule things ‘unnecessary’?

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I ruled it out of order, and it relates to standing order 100.

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

I do not know the exact statistics in terms of the American exports of wheat to Iraq, but of course they would have increased. They started off at a very low base because they were not exporting any wheat there. What I will take responsibility for is going to Iraq in February of this year on behalf of Australian wheat growers and getting them the opportunity to bid in a tender for 350,000 tonnes of wheat, which they won. They have the opportunity to bid in a tender that is underway again now for further exports of their wheat to Iraq.