Mr BECKROGE: My question without notice is directed to the Minister for Agriculture. Is the Government planning to introduce changes that will effectively end rodeo and campdrafting events in rural New South Wales?

Mr AMERY: Earlier the Minister for Land and Water Conservation referred to the number of submissions that had been received in relation to a particular issue. Over the last week this rodeo issue has been the number one issue in my office. The honourable member for Broken Hill has asked me a question and written me letters about this matter, as has the honourable member for Clarence, who, I understand, has had first-hand experience of rodeos.

Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Eastwood to order for the third time.

Mr AMERY: As a matter of fact, the honourable member for Clarence has been accredited with riding the legendary bucking bull, Chainsaw. Congratulations should go to him. I have also received letters on behalf of constituents from members representing the electorates of Cessnock, Tamworth, Upper Hunter, Maitland, Myall Lakes, Albury, Port Macquarie, Burrinjuck, Northern Tablelands, Murwillumbah, Lismore, Bega, Oxley, Camden, and Barwon, and from both the Leader of the National Party and the Deputy Leader of the National Party. The only member of the National Party who has not written to me about this matter is the honourable member for Coffs Harbour. He also rode Chainsaw. He was sent into the air, fell on his head and, as everyone in the House can see, he has never recovered.

This matter has also attracted the attention of the honourable member for Barwon. He has circulated a lot of misinformation about it. Members of the National Party, in particular the honourable member for Barwon, have been deliberately misleading. As a result of the false statement made by the honourable member for Barwon and others, many people and associations have become concerned about the code of practice for the welfare of animals used in rodeo events. The code of practice for the welfare of animals used in rodeo events is attached to the general regulation under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, or POCTA as it is known. The rodeo code is currently being reviewed by the Animal Welfare Advisory Council, or AWAC. In reviewing the rodeo code a subcommittee of AWAC held discussions with the three major identified rodeo associations operating in New South Wales: the National Rodeo Association, the Australian Bushman's Campdraft and Rodeo Association and the Australian Professional Rodeo Association. These organisations were asked to comment on a revised draft rodeo code, which they did. In turn, the organisations asked for discussions with the full Animal Welfare Advisory Council.

As a result these organisations attended the most recent meeting of AWAC to discuss aspects of the revised code. It was agreed that a further draft of the code would again be circulated for comment. The honourable member for Barwon has made great play of the claim that the Government is not consulting with anybody. The idea behind releasing this document to the public was to enable consultation with the public. Obviously, the honourable member's understanding of consultation is very limited. Several provisions in the subsequent draft have provoked reaction from rodeo organisations, in particular, the issue of full-time attendance of a veterinarian during a rodeo. I point out that the lead proponent of this provision was not me. This matter has not come to my office; it is not a Government proposal. The person who pushed this matter the most in the AWAC subcommittee was Mr Peter Carter, the New South Wales Farmers Association representative, who is a veterinarian. It is not clear to me why this matter was pushed by the New South Wales Farmers Association. If honourable members have concerns about that matter they should perhaps direct their correspondence and inquiries to that association.

To date I have received more than 250 letters and several petitions from concerned rural citizens arguing that this provision is both unfair and unnecessary and that the cost would be prohibitive. Quite frankly, I agree with them. These letters have included representations from many members of Parliament and many associations, which I have already named. The honourable member for Barwon has jumped the gun on this issue without carrying out much research. He should realise that the draft is not a Government discussion paper, but a paper put out by an AWAC subcommittee. Discussion papers are designed to promote discussion. It is clear that more negotiations will be needed with the organisations I have referred to. Consequently, I will ask AWAC to undertake the task of negotiating an acceptable solution to this issue. I trust also that the New South Wales Farmers Association will ensure that its representative on the committee is aware of the concerns of the rural community.

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Recently I have learnt, as the interjection from the honourable member for Barwon confirms, that Dr Peter Carter has been replaced as the New South Wales Farmers Association representative on animal welfare matters by Mr Nevin Holland, who is involved in the poultry industry. Animal welfare is a serious and important issue. Rodeos are covered by State legislation and the associations involved have their own codes of practice in relation to the treatment of animals. As I have said, the draft is not a Government proposal. The Government does not intend, and never has intended, to proceed with this regulation. I hope my answer satisfies the concerns of rural New South Wales about the proposed recommendation.

Questions without notice concluded.