Susan McDonald Queensland, National Party, Shadow Minister for Resources and Northern Australia
2:37 pm
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator McCarthy. Minister, if the decision to allow US-processed beef from Canada and Mexico was genuinely based on science, why the urgency that has precluded a transparent and open consultation with the most impacted primary producers, the largest regional employers and, of course, the thousands of Australian workers potentially impacted?
Malarndirri McCarthy NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians
I thank the senator for her question. I'm a little surprised by the question, actually, given that this was a process that occurred directly under those opposite and has been going for 10 years. I'm not quite sure what it is that the opposition don't understand about this, other than the fact that there is hypocrisy being shown by these questions in regard to science.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Senators:
Opposition senators interjecting—
Malarndirri McCarthy NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians
There absolutely is. This has gone on for nearly a decade, and we know that there has been a process that has been thoroughly done through this. Senator McDonald, you know that as much as anyone does.
Sue Lines President
Senator McCarthy, I remind you to direct your answers through the chair. Senator McDonald, first supplementary?
Susan McDonald Queensland, National Party, Shadow Minister for Resources and Northern Australia
2:38 pm
Minister, can you then guarantee that there are no biosecurity issues or concerns for human health with this decision?
Malarndirri McCarthy NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians
2:39 pm
I thank the senator for her question. It's very curious that they're worried about biosecurity given that they've no interest in net zero with what the other side are trying to do in terms of looking after the care of this country. President, I will say this: Minister Farrell has made it very clear, and so has—
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Senators:
Opposition senators interjecting—
Malarndirri McCarthy NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians
You see, those opposite laugh because they are so divided about what they are doing in relation to this space. They laugh about it and they don't care.
Susan McDonald Queensland, National Party, Shadow Minister for Resources and Northern Australia
On relevance: this is a rambling—I'm not sure what, but it's certainly not relevant.
Sue Lines President
The minister is being relevant, and I will continue to listen.
Malarndirri McCarthy NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians
Thank you for that, because I am absolutely being relevant. We do care very much about biosecurity. We do know that we have done everything we can in this space given the mess that you left in underfunding that whole area.
Michaelia Cash WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs
Again, it's relevance. The question was very direct: can the minister guarantee there are no biosecurity issues or concerns with this decision?
Sue Lines President
I will make this point to the earlier point of order: if you want your question answered then don't interject, because the minister is entitled to take those interjections. Secondly, in response to the matter just raised by Senator Cash, the minister is being directly relevant.
Malarndirri McCarthy NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians
We certainly are not compromising on biosecurity.
Susan McDonald Queensland, National Party, Shadow Minister for Resources and Northern Australia
2:41 pm
Minister, will you support a transparent and honest inquiry into the decision on US processed beef from Mexico and Canada?
Malarndirri McCarthy NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians
As the members opposite know, this has been going on for 10 years.