Andrew Broad (Mallee, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is for the Minister for Agriculture. As a farmer myself, a producer of prime Australian lamb, will the minister update the House on the government's plan for Australian agriculture for the coming year?

Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for his question. I am happy to say that the other day I was loading sheep at $99 per lamb. They were second run lambs, so that was very good. I was selling cows the other day, like yourself. They were over $1,300 a head, which is very good. I was thinking about what a difference the government makes. I have been going through a few of the differences, and nothing tells a story like the numbers. Under those opposite, light steers out of Darwin were 165 cents a kilogram. Under us it is 270 cents per kilogram. That is up 63 per cent—63 per cent of a difference. Under those opposite, light heifers were 145 cents per kilogram. Under us it is 255 cents per kilogram. That is up 75 per cent because of our government. At the Roma Saleyards, big steers—over 500 kilograms—under them it was 160 cents a kilogram; under us, it is 232 cents a kilogram. That is up 45 per cent. If you go up to Roma, under them it was 164 cents a kilogram; under us it is 233 cents a kilogram. It is not just in the cattle market; go to dairy exports. Under them, Murray Goulburn opened up at 41 cents per litre Under us, it has opened up this year at 44 cents per litre—up seven per cent.

Joel Fitzgibbon (Hunter, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The minister was invited to share with the House his plan for agriculture.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What is the point of order?

Joel Fitzgibbon (Hunter, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is obvious he does not have one.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member will resume his seat.

Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Our plan is exactly what we are doing. We are increasing the standard of living of people on the land by reason of our government. By reason, not just of rhetoric—what we are actually doing; what we are actually delivering. We are actually delivering a better price of dairy. We are actually delivering a better price for a sheep. We are actually delivering a better price for beef. Under them, the price of a bail of cotton was $470 a bail; under us it is $520 a bail. Under them, lambs were 435 cents per kilogram; under us it is 664 cents per kilogram. Under us everything is better. Under us in agriculture everything is better.

Mr Brendan O'Connor interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Gorton will desist.

Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Under them we had the live animal debacle and we had the Murray-Darling debacle. They halved the sized of the agriculture department. They had three agricultural ministers, two Prime Ministers and they have still only got one farmer. I am checking the record and that one does not seem very reliable. Under them we had the carbon tax. Under us we have a formidable white paper that is actually going to make people's lives better. Under us we are actually going to build the dams, because we are not going to be held to ransom by the Greens. Under us we have the lowest interest rates on record. That is the plan under us. Our plan is a better future and we are delivering.