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- 19 October 2005
Rice Industry
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The Hon. DUNCAN GAY: Is the Minister for Primary Industries aware that the President of the Rice Growers Association of Australia, Laurie Arthur, expressed "great disbelief" at the Minister's decision to deregulate the domestic rice market? Is the Minister further aware that he said, "It is disappointing that the NSW Government chose to act now as the rice industry is still in negotiations with the Federal Government...we therefore believe this action is premature"? Will the Minister allow Country Labor to join the Liberal and National parties in opposing his deregulation?
The Hon. IAN MACDONALD: This question is almost bizarre and beyond belief. Fortunately, Laurie Arthur has said a fair bit about the decision that we have been forced into by the honourable member's Federal colleagues. He made very clear what he thought about the New South Wales Government. I quote what he said today on radio, "The New South Wales Government have been terrific supporters of the New South Wales rice industry. They have helped us." The rice industry is not disappointed.
The PRESIDENT: Order! I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time.
The Hon. IAN MACDONALD: It is obvious that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has not looked at the press release of the National Competition Council of yesterday. I will read the last paragraphs to him because he has such a selective memory of these complex issues, which probably is commensurate with his capacity. It says that:
The passage of such legislation—
which we are forced into—
will result in the Council assessing New South Wales as compliant with its National Competition Policy undertakings—
and here is the rub—
and therefore there will be no further need for suspension of competition payments.
In other words, if we do not pass this legislation it will mean that the Commonwealth will take $26 million out of our budget. That would pay for a lot of schools and hospitals. Not only that, in Western Australia three years ago when the competition council imposed a penalty on the Western Australian Government over a primary production issue, the Western Australian Government committed itself to deregulate that particular aspect. It was waiting for them to get the legislation through the Parliament. What did Mr Costello do? He fined Western Australia, despite the fact that they had tried to get the legislation through and were prevented from doing so by the Greens in Western Australia. Western Australia suffered a penalty because it was unable to get the legislation through. The Government is not prepared to have the taxpayers and citizens of this State face another $26 million in penalties. We are not ashamed of our position. The useless Nationals opposite cannot pull out a statement anywhere at any time to say the national competition council should not take this action.
Many people are like the Deputy Leader of the Opposition. They will not say anything about it. This is an issue in respect of which The Nationals have failed the people of the Riverina and the citizens of New South Wales. The honourable member is so stupid to have asked me a question on this because even the Australian Financial Review made it very clear that we had no choice. All the newspapers and the broadcast media have made it clear that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has been absolutely useless to the rice industry on this issue. As for Adrian Piccoli, the local member, he does not know where he is at; he is under a table—if he is not trying to thump someone—but at least he is a nicer fellow than his colleague. We are not prepared to have $26 million stolen from New South Wales!
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