Malcolm Roberts (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Hansard source

As a servant to the people of Queensland and Australia, let me say: at last, we have now got a discussion on the hybrid Bradfield Scheme. Yesterday and the day before, and the day before that, One Nation stood alone in this place to defend the interests of Australian farmers and rural communities for whom agriculture is their lifeblood. There are many twists, though, that will enrage people when they come to realise the Liberal-National Party is, at last, following One Nation's lead yet again in supporting the hybrid Bradfield Scheme.

I haven't got much time left now, but let me say a few things. First of all, technology has improved immensely since Dr Bradfield first developed his scheme. He did a lot of work over the whole of Queensland and came to the conclusion it would work. Well, technology has improved even more. On top of that, our agricultural production is far more valuable now. Water is like gold, so we have to do everything we can.

So what's the problem, then? Well, the problem is people—specifically, political people. Annastacia Palaszczuk has now adopted a smaller hybrid Bradfield Scheme. Really? It's not a Bradfield Scheme if it's small. That goes against the definition of it. Now we see Deb Frecklington, as opposition leader, promising to build the Bradfield Scheme, yet just two years ago she said it was technically not feasible. But she realises she's being embarrassed and upstaged by One Nation both in Queensland and nationally, so she's learned the Prime Minister's tactic—build a facade and then go and sell it.