Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Sterle for his continued interest in the future of Australian agriculture. It is true that having a vision and a plan for the future is important. The Prime Minister has done that with the road map for the Asian century. But there are practical things we can do now. In this place, we should do what we can to improve the opportunities of our farmers, including our wheat farmers, right across Australia, including those in WA.

The Gillard government is trying to finish the job started by the Howard government in 2006, supported by us, to deregulate the wheat market. For six years, the industry has been transitioning towards deregulation, now to be blocked by Mr Tony Abbott and the National Party. The leader of the Liberals appears now to be doing the bidding of the National Party. That is very sad to watch, can I say. The Gillard government want to deregulate the wheat market because we believe, like other commodities— (Time expired)