Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

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 (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, I do.

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Abetz interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Abetz, I am waiting to call your colleague.

Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

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 (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

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

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