Scott Buchholz (Wright, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Agriculture touches the lives of all Australians through the food we eat, the natural fibres that we wear and the economic prosperity that we all enjoy. If agriculture exporting were an Olympic sport, Australia would be at the top of the medal tally. According to the Menzies Research Centre, we'd take: gold for beef exports, with 13.5 per cent of total exported beef, ahead of United States and Brazil; gold for barley exports, ahead of Russia and the Ukraine; and gold again for wool exports, ahead of New Zealand and Uruguay. Australia would step onto the podium for sugar, cotton, oats, almonds, butter and milk powder products. Our farmers are well and truly punching above their weight on the world stage. Australia has more world-class farmers per capita than any other nation on this planet and they achieve that despite many struggling due to drought and Labor's draconian vegetation management laws in Queensland, coupled with market volatility.

Australia's agricultural industry deserves the sincerest thanks for the remarkable contribution it makes to our nation. I would like to thank the many farmers in my electorate of Wright in particular. Our region is home to so many wonderful producers, from dairy farmers to graziers to vegetable growers and processors, each deserving their own gold medal. Together they support our local businesses, our local employment, our local services, our local hospitals, our local schools and our local public transport, all as a result of the vibrant rural and regional communities that are in my electorate today.