Ross Cadell (NSW, National Party, Shadow Minister for Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Minister McCarthy. The Australian government's premier advising body on farming, ABARES, recently found your energy policies are set to take 18 million hectares out of farming production to create carbon credits. ABARES found that over one-half of this farming land will be in our rich high-rainfall and wheat-sheep areas and that over 40 per cent of farmers will leave farming altogether after selling their carbon credits. Minister, during a time of unprecedented instability, why is the government sacrificing farming jobs and agricultural land, making it harder for our farmers to feed our nation?

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator, for the question. Our government is very proud to support our farmers right across Australia. In fact, it is the Albanese Labor government that's committed to a very robust, sustainable agricultural industry that continues to thrive in Australia. Since coming to government we've been delivering for Australian farmers and producers—strengthening biosecurity, boosting the ag workforce, opening up new trade opportunities and improving farm sustainability. Throughout the Albanese government's time, we've been acting on climate change and seizing the economic opportunity before our nation including keeping the trade door open.

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We're not feeling it.

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Now, Senator McKenzie, just because we care about the farmers across Australia doesn't mean we need to hear the interjections from the senator opposite.. Our government is working with farmers, not against them, to build a stronger, cleaner and more profitable future for Australian agriculture. Industry finally has a government willing to match its own climate ambitions, and our government is delivering on that work, investing over $2 billion to support agriculture, decarbonisation, resilience and innovation. Table 1 includes $60.8 million to support emissions reduction efforts in agriculture and land, $87 million to establish the Zero Net Emissions Agriculture Cooperative Research Centre—

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Order across the chamber!

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

They don't want to hear what we're doing in terms of assisting our farmers across Australia, President. They're just not interested. They're just a rabble.

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

Senator Cadell, first supplementary?

Ross Cadell (NSW, National Party, Shadow Minister for Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, a consortium of Australian universities found that another 12 million hectares of land is needed to host wind turbines, solar panels and transmission lines under your renewables-only energy plan. Has the government requested any advice?

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

Senator Cadell, I'm sorry. Please resume your seat. Senator Ayres, I need to hear the question, and your interjections are disrespectful and disorderly.

Ross Cadell (NSW, National Party, Shadow Minister for Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Has the government requested any advice on how its energy plans will impact Australia's energy and food security, given that now 30 million hectares are being taken?

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

Minister McCarthy?

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, President. I'm so eager to answer I stood up before you. Thank you to the senator for the question. We can see that the new leader of the Nationals is really having an influence on that side. Farmers are choosing to make money by keeping and planting trees to generate carbon credits and by hosting renewables. So why don't the Nats support the farmers choosing how they want to earn money?

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Order! Please resume your seat.

Order! Senator Canavan and Senator Ayres, which part of 'order' did either of you fail to understand? Seriously! The minute the minister got to her feet, suddenly interjections started across the chamber. That is disrespectful. Senator Cadell, second supplementary?

Ross Cadell (NSW, National Party, Shadow Minister for Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, the government has also scrapped a 1,500-gigalitre cap on water buybacks in the Murray-Darling and removed associated economic neutrality tests. How much farming land will be lost from the government's decision to strip more water away from communities, given the town of Bourke has lost 40 per cent of its water and 60 per cent of its population? Will the government's uncapped water buybacks put at risk the viability of many farming towns?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Angus Taylor likes buybacks!

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

Minister McCarthy?

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Do you want to talk about water buybacks?

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

I just called the minister. Senator McKenzie, as I said yesterday, you always think it's your right to have the last word. It is not. I'm serious. You either sit there in silence or leave the chamber. I've had enough of your interjections.

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In the excitement of listening to everyone being an expert on farmers, I just want to reiterate—

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Shadow Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Because there are real farmers on this side!

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'll take the interjection by Senator McGrath that there are real farmers on that side. I wonder why they have to keep asking the questions, then. Maybe it's because we know that the new leader of the Nationals once said that farmers are not the Nationals' core constituency. The new leader of the Nationals once said that. So I pick up the interjection by the member opposite.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Shadow Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can you name one farmer?

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

See? They're not interested at all. You say you're here for the real farmers, but you don't want to hear the answers.

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

Minister, please resume your seat. Senator Cadell?

Ross Cadell (NSW, National Party, Shadow Minister for Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On direct relevance—

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

I'm sorry, Senator Cadell; I cannot hear you. I'll wait until the chamber is respectful.

Ross Cadell (NSW, National Party, Shadow Minister for Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you for your protection, President. On direct relevance, this isn't an episode of Farmer Wants a Wife. It's 'farmer wants an answer'.

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

Senator McCarthy. You've finished? Okay.

Honourable senators interjecting—

Order! Come to order across the chamber. Senator Ayres, I've called for order. I have Senator Hanson on my list, but I can't see Senator Hanson in the chamber. Is that you, Senator Whitten? If you change, it's helpful to let me know.

Tyron Whitten (WA, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Sorry.