David Littleproud (Maranoa, National Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

LEPROUD (—) (): My question is to the Prime Minister. Given foot-and-mouth disease will cost the Australian economy $80 billion and hit everyday family budgets for milk and meat, does the Prime Minister agree with Western Australian Labor agriculture minister Alannah MacTiernan's statement that FMD won't be catastrophic and that milk and meat will actually be cheaper?

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister will be heard in silence. The Leader of the Nationals was heard in silence. I would ask for the same respect to be shown to the Prime Minister.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the leader of the National Party for his question. I congratulate him on his election to high office. It must be difficult to follow the member for New England in your position, but I wish you well. I was aware of FMD, and I'm accountable for what happens in this place, of course. I was made aware by a tweet on 9 May 2022, and that tweet said:

This morning Chief Veterinary Officer Mark Schipp briefed me about Foot and Mouth Disease and its presence in Indonesia.

There it was, 9 May 2022. You would've expected the person who got that information to have acted, not to be in a position to then, subsequently to what happens down the track, look back and say, 'People didn't act earlier.' I heard that yesterday. I heard him say, 'People didn't act earlier.' But the tweet was in fact from David Littleproud MP, so on 9 May he was alert to the issue.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Page, a point of order?

Kevin Hogan (Page, National Party, Shadow Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The point of order is relevance. This question went quite specifically to Alannah MacTiernan's very irresponsible and outrageous statements to every farmer in this country, and the Prime Minister needs to address the comments that she made.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question was about foot-and-mouth disease and the impact on the economy. I give the call to the Prime Minister. I'm listening to his answer carefully.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am indeed taking the issue seriously, and the government is taking the issue seriously. What we won't take seriously is someone who, when he was the minister, rang the bell and said, 'This is happening,' on 9 May and then says, 'Oh, why didn't you act earlier?' Seriously. They talk about foot-and-mouth disease, people coming in and whether shoes have been checked off enough. This is the same mob that let the Ruby Princess come in, a bit more noticeable than a pair of shoes. It was docked at Sydney Harbour. Everyone got off and brought COVID in. That was on your watch after you said that you'd stop the Ruby Princess coming in. After they said they would stop cruise ships entering Australia, they allowed the Ruby Princess to dock. The truth is we are acting with the strongest biosecurity response in Australia's history.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Page will cease interjecting.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That's why our response is backed by the NFF and backed by the cattle industry. You don't have a single peak agricultural organisation backing your rhetoric—not one, unlike the NFF. Let it be recorded that he regards himself as a greater representative than the National Farmers Federation. (Time expired)

Honourable members interjecting—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is far too much noise in the chamber. I've already ejected one member. I will have no hesitation now in issuing a general warning and advising that, if this behaviour continues, members will be asked to leave the chamber.