Senate debates Questions without Notice
Rural and Regional Australia
Bridget McKenzie Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development
2:12 pm
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. At the last election the Australian Labor Party said in its policy platform: 'We want rural and regional Australians to receive a fair share of the prosperity they create. In return, they also deserve the same standard of education, health care and community services as their fellow Australians.' Minister, since Labor was elected you've put a handbrake on agricultural productivity, fumbled major trade treaties, introduced a new truckies tax and a new fresh food tax, and threatened the family farm with superannuation changes. Minister, is this what the Prime Minister meant when Labor promised to deliver regional Australians a fair share of the prosperity they create? And why are regional Australians less prosperous now than when you were elected?
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
2:13 pm
Congratulations to Senator McKenzie on getting a question—although I noticed that she hasn't asked a question of Senator Watt, and I have to say to her that she should have the courage to ask the senator a question about many of these issues. I'm very happy to answer.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Senators:
Opposition senators interjecting—
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
Would you like to stand up and say something?
Opposition senators interjecting—
Jane Hume Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Public Service
A point of order on relevance: that was an answer that was nothing other than abuse of the person asking the question, when it was directed to the—
Sue Lines President
Senator Hume, resume your seat. I just reminded you, the last time you stood on a point of order, not to go into a statement, which is exactly what you did. I have said to all senators in this place that if you interject the minister is entitled to take the interjection. I would suggest, if everyone is serious about Senator McKenzie getting an answer to her question, that they listen in silence.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
I would have thought that congratulating Senator McKenzie on getting a question was hardly an unfair thing to say, but, if she wants me to withdraw it, she knows I'm always happy to withdraw. I make the point that this government has invested an additional $3 billion in the agriculture portfolio. There's $1 billion more for biosecurity.
Bridget McKenzie Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development
You're taxing the farmers.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
For the first time there's sustainable biosecurity funding—something that you could never deliver. This government has worked to remove trade impediments with China.
Bridget McKenzie Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development
It's why they don't vote for you.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
Have a discussion with barley producers. Have a discussion with the barley industry.
Bridget McKenzie Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development
You are a disaster.
Sue Lines President
Senator McKenzie, you have asked your question. You are interjecting and your voice is louder than the minister's and she has a microphone. I ask you to listen in silence. Minister Wong, please continue.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
Thank you. We have worked to remove the trade impediments with China. I have met with many in the agricultural industries, particularly our barley industry, and I tell you that they're pretty happy with the additional money they are getting from those exports.
Murray Watt Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Fixing your mess again.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
What was the figure, Senator Watt?
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
There's $6 billion more in the Australian economy as a consequence of those trade impediments being lifted. Let's talk about health care and the work that this government is doing to increase bulk-billing and to increase support into the regions for regional doctors—something that you could never deliver. You trumpet your support for regional Australia, but Labor is the one delivering to regional communities.
Bridget McKenzie Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development
2:17 pm
Since being elected, Labor has deliberately stuck the boot into regional Australia, and our farmers, the backbone of our agriculture sector, are actually hurting.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Government Senators:
Government senators interjecting—
Sue Lines President
Order on my right. Senator McKenzie is absolutely entitled to ask the question in silence. Senator McKenzie, please continue.
Bridget McKenzie Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development
Thank you for your protection, Madam President. Prime agricultural land has been destroyed to make way for wind turbines, solar panels and transmission towers; our rural roads and regional communities have been stripped of funding; and our hospitals have had doctors diverted to the cities. Is this what the PM meant when he said that, under Labor, regional Australia deserved the same standards?
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
There was so much of that question that was not correct. There was so much hyperbole from the party that posts on representing regional Australia while not delivering for regional Australia. You don't deliver for regional Australia. Did you support more bulk-billing in regional Australia? No, you didn't. Did you support more measures to get a medical workforce into regional Australia? No. You come in here, Senator McKenzie, and pretend that you are a champion for the regions, but you don't deliver the policies that actually support regional communities. No amount of hyperbole, rhetoric and walking around with a hat on makes you a representative of regional Australia.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Hon. Senators:
Honourable senators interjecting—
Sue Lines President
Tim Ayres NSW, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Trade
Sharma is more regional than you.
Sue Lines President
Senator Ayres, I should not have to single out particular senators to stop their rude interjecting. Senator McKenzie, I'm going to invite you to ask your second supplementary and then I'm going to invite you not to interject. Second supplementary?
Bridget McKenzie Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development
2:19 pm
The Prime Minister and this Labor government are in the process of banning live sheep exports, have signed up to a global methane pledge and have forged ahead with water buybacks without socioeconomic safeguards, destroying the livelihoods of farmers, workers and our communities. Minister, why has Labor broken its promise of prosperity to rural and regional Australians and when will the PM live up to his promise that he made prior to the election?
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
I again go back to an additional $3 billion for agriculture, a billion dollars for biosecurity—for the first time, sustainable biosecurity funding. I can remember Mr Joyce, years ago, telling us how important biosecurity was. What he was engaged in was a lot of media stunts. It's a Labor minister who has delivered sustainable biosecurity funding. You didn't deliver it in nine years. And then, as I said: trade with China, additional support for regional communities when it comes to health care—
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
and, of course, additional PALM workers to deal with labour shortages. Senator, this government does care about regional communities. We are doing the work to support regional communities. I know that hurts, Senator McKenzie. I know that hurts. But the reality is that we've delivered more than the National Party ever could.