Senate debates Questions without Notice

Wool Industry


Richard Colbeck

Richard Colbeck Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Health

3:02 pm

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Sherry. Does the government agree that Australian wool is ethically produced?

Nick Sherry

Nick Sherry Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law

Yes, I do.

Eric Abetz

Eric Abetz Tasmania, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate

John Hogg

John Hogg President

Senator Abetz, I am waiting to call your colleague.

Richard Colbeck

Richard Colbeck Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Health

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Is Professor Roy Green wrong when he implies on page 110 of his review into the textile, clothing and footwear industry, released on Friday, that Australian wool is not ‘ethically’ produced? Isn’t the government rolling over to extreme antifarmer activists by considering the idea of providing more than $8 million to support the notion that some Australian farmers are unethical?

Nick Sherry

Nick Sherry Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law

It should not surprise the senator or the Senate that I have not actually read those comments. But I am happy to take the question on notice and provide you with some further information.

Chris Evans

Chris Evans WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate

Mr President, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.