Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. I refer the minister to the government's announcement that it would provide concessional loans of up to $650,000 to farmers in financial need at an interest rate of 4.5 per cent. I also remind the minister that at the last round of budget estimates Treasury officials admitted that the government's average cost to borrow these funds—and on his advice I asked that question—is at an interest rate of around three per cent. When asked about the 1.5 per cent difference, a Treasury official stated: 'Well, it goes into consolidated revenue.'

Why is this government seeking to make money from the plight of farmers in this country, many of whom are struggling precisely because of this government's inept decisions—such as shutting down the live cattle trade to Indonesia?