Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation) Share this | Hansard source

The government opposes this amendment. The issues that have been canvassed indicate that the current veto arrangement sunsets on 30 June. I do not think there is any objection that we need to deal with that. The other parts of the legislation are basically nuts and bolts and a degree of process in light of Uhrig and a few other issues. All of the speakers could not help themselves but refer to what I consider to be the ludicrous proposition that there is ongoing division in government ranks. If we were to accept that as the reason we do not want an inquiry—and I do not accept that that is the case—then it stands to reason that the Labor Party, Greens and Australian Democrats want an inquiry in order to see this alleged split continue to fester.

If you want to impute motives to our side, I suggest that you think about it because your own motives will be exposed as well. The very fact that you raise this as an issue exposes the fact that you are not interested in the true welfare of the wheat growers of this country but that you are trying desperately to get a crack in the government on this issue. Can I disappoint you all by indicating that there is no crack; we stand united on this issue for the reasons I have briefly outlined. I will not detain the Senate any further. We believe that this legislation should proceed and that is why we oppose the amendment.

Question put:

That the amendment (Senator O’Brien’s) be agreed to.