Bill Heffernan (NSW, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is directed to Senator Abetz as the Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Is the minister aware of allegations by Dr Clive Hamilton of the Australia Institute that the government is funding unviable, drought-stricken farmers?

George Campbell (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That’s what you said!

Bill Heffernan (NSW, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, are Dr Hamilton’s claims credible? I know what my response has been, but what is the government’s response?

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Paul Calvert (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Shouting across the chamber is disorderly!

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

I thank Senator Heffernan for the question and note his very sensible and often robust contributions to this debate on support for our drought-stricken farmers. I am aware of the claims made by Dr Hamilton to which the honourable senator refers—claims which I can say the government categorically rejects.

OECD figures indicate that, compared to the rest of the world, the Australian government’s support for our farmers is relatively low. In other words: they are very, very efficient. In Japan, farm income from the government is 56 per cent; in the European Union, 32 per cent; in the United States, 16 per cent. In Australia, it is just five per cent. Yet Dr Hamilton would deign to tell us that we are propping up unviable farmers. The fact is Dr Hamilton’s claims are simply not credible.

This Dr Hamilton heads the so-called Australia Institute, a left-wing think tank—now there is an oxymoron if ever you have had one; but that is what he does. The institute acts as a stalking horse for the Australian Labor Party and the Greens and advances a number of nutbag propositions; any number of nutbag propositions come out of this institute.

The head of this institute is also the author of a book called The Mystic Economist, and it appears that mysticism informs his economic prognostications, such as those he made yesterday. Let me explain. Some time ago on the ABC Radio National program The Search for Meaning, Dr Hamilton said this—and I would invite all honourable senators to listen very carefully:

Out of the blackness appeared the figure of my shadow. He’d shown himself several times in dreams over the previous months I realised subsequently, especially in one where this figure appeared as a murderer and as an abuser of women ...

I entered into a dialogue with this figure who appeared before me. I spoke to him ... and he told me that his name was Jacob. And from his mouth spewed the most foul salvo of abuse that was imaginable, and I was wracked by overpowering emotion—almost more than I could bear ... And so I talked to Jacob and calmed him down and befriended him, and ultimately forgave him for being part of me.

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Have you completely lost it?

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

Mr President, I doubt the farmers of this country will be so quick to forgive Dr Hamilton for his Jacob inspired foul salvo of abuse against the farm sector in this country.

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You have completely lost it!

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

Senator Evans interjects and says have I completely lost it!

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

The simple fact is this is the head of a left-wing think tank who used all of those words. When I quote the words of the stalking horse of the Labor Party, they think I have lost it. They are not my words; they are the left wing’s words. These are the people the Labor Party and the Greens rely on to develop their economic policy for this country, and when we quote back their words they laugh and scoff. They should be laughing and scoffing at Dr Hamilton, who has done a great disservice to farmers. (Time expired)

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Paul Calvert (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senators on my left will come to order! I remind you that your own colleague has the call, and I would like to hear her in some sort of quiet.