Paul Fletcher (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to his answer last Thursday, when he told the House the National Reconstruction Fund was an example of how his government is supporting timber workers. Given his government did a deal to specifically exclude the native hardwood timber industry from accessing the fund, did the Prime Minister mislead parliament?

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

I'm pleased to get that question. They voted against the National Reconstruction Fund. They voted against it. In the question the member just asked: are we supporting timber workers? You bet we are. That's why, as part of the National Reconstruction Fund, we have $500 million for value-adding in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, food and fibre. That's why we have that.

Now, the Victorian government have made a decision to end native forest logging, and that is a decision for them. What we are doing is making sure that we provide an avenue for increased investment in forestry through the National Reconstruction Fund.

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

The member for Gippsland will not interject anymore.

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

That is very important, because the member may be unaware but around 90 per cent of our forest products now come from plantation timber. We want to see more plantation forests and we want to see more jobs. We're investing $300 million to grow plantations, modernise our timber manufacturing infrastructure—

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

Order! The member for Gippsland is now officially warned. He will not interject anymore. The Manager of Opposition Business on a point of order.

Paul Fletcher (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My point of order is relevance. The question was very specifically about the native hardwood timber industry. Is it supported under the National Reconstruction Fund? That was the question.

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

The question was about the National Reconstruction Fund supporting timber workers. The Prime Minister is talking about the issue and also the National Reconstruction Fund, so I'll listen carefully to his answer to make sure he is being relevant, but at this stage he is in order. He has the call to continue for the remaining time.

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

Apparently, according to those opposite, there aren't any timber workers in the sustainable forestry industry. That'd be news to the suppliers of Visy. That'd be news to the workers of Tumbarumba. That'd be news to all those who work in the industry. We on this side of the chamber brought forward a fund of $15 billion. Those opposite, of course, voted against it, like they vote against everything. They don't like being called 'the no-alition', so I won't do that. But the fact is that they vote 'no' to everything, including the National Reconstruction Fund.

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

I give the call to the honourable member for—

Order, the member for—

The Deputy Leader of the Opposition is now officially warned. It applies to both sides of the chamber: when questions are being asked, they're to be heard in silence without interruptions or interjections. I want to hear from the member for Lyons in silence. I give him the call.