Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Trade and Tourism, Senator Farrell. Minister, yesterday, you told Australians twice that President Trump raised the beef import ban directly with the Prime Minister as part of one of their phone calls. The Prime Minister denied this, and you have been forced to backtrack. Did the Prime Minister or his office direct you to change your story?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No, I made a mistake. President Trump referred to the US beef exports in relation to Australia in his so-called liberation day speech and not in discussions with the Prime Minister. On realising my mistake, I apologised to the PM and I corrected the record with the journalist involved.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Cash, first supplementary?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In the first instance, how were you informed of this so-called mistake, and, given the seriousness of international biosecurity and the potential impact on Australia's beef industry, can you confirm whether you were mistaken, misinformed or misrepresenting the facts when you were forced to retract your claim? And how can Australians have confidence in a minister who cannot keep account of his international trade negotiations consistently?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Cash, for your first supplementary question. One of the things my mum taught me as a child was, if you make a mistake, own up straightaway. That's what I did. What do you do when you make a mistake, Senator Cash?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Cash, second supplementary?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, are you now prepared to table the full briefing or record of discussions regarding US beef imports between the Prime Minister and the US president and between your own department and US officials so that the Australian people can know who influenced this decision and whether the Prime Minister is telling the truth?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Cash, for your second supplementary question. In my experience, the Prime Minister always tells the truth. When I make a mistake, Senator Cash, I own up. I come clean. I realised my mistake. I corrected it as quickly as I could. If other journalists rang me, I corrected it with them. I made a mistake, I've corrected it, and that's, as far as I'm concerned, the end of the matter.