Grain Haulage

Mr PETER DRAPER: My question is directed to the Deputy Premier. Will the Minister update the House on progress with negotiations to ensure that grain grown by farmers in the north-west will be able to travel by rail to the Newcastle port, and related matters?

The SPEAKER: Order! The House will come to order.

Mr JOHN WATKINS: I thank the member for Tamworth for his question and commend him for his ongoing interest in this most important matter. For the benefit of the House, the Leader of The Nationals weighed into the grain haulage debate on 7 May when he issued a press release, which thundered:

The issue of grain transport is a major concern for the people of the North West.

The State Government needs to come up with a rescue package for grain haulage on branch lines throughout the North West.

NSW Transport Minister John Watkins needs to get together with Pacific National, NSW Farmers Association and local government representatives in the region.

This is a major economic concern for people in Tamworth and surrounding towns. The Iemma Government must act now to resolve this crisis.

For a change, I agree with the Leader of The Nationals, as does the member for Tamworth. In fact, on 5 May—two days before the Leader of The Nationals weighed into the debate—the Government made a significant announcement about the haulage of grain. We announced an extra $45 million in funding for country rail infrastructure, including an extra $30 million in 2008-09 for the branch line network, as well as the grain lines. The other significant announcement was that Pacific National and GrainCorp had reached an agreement to continue grain haulage by rail, securing investment in grain transport by rail in rural New South Wales. This agreement ensures the haulage of export grain by rail to ports such as Port Kembla and Newcastle. That announcement was not missed by all members of The Nationals. In fact, one day before his leader issued his press release calling for action, the member for Barwon—our old friend—issued a media release on the subject, acknowledging that the problem had been resolved. In fact, some people might read his press release as praising the Government. For the benefit of the House, on 6 May the member for Barwon said:

The future of export grain haulage in NSW has been injected with some stability, with the Government—

Mr Adrian Piccoli: Point of order: I refer to Standing Order 129. The question did not refer to press releases or media statements. When the member for Tamworth asks a question given to him by the Government he should at least have the decency to edit it and leave out the words "and related matters." If that is not a set-up question I have never heard one.

The SPEAKER: Order! There is no point of order.

Mr JOHN WATKINS: The member for Barwon knew that the Government had solved the problem but that goose opposite did not. The Leader of The Nationals did not have the faintest idea what was happening west of the Blue Mountains.

Mr Andrew Fraser: Point of order: It is customary for members in this place to address other members by their proper titles. I ask you to direct the Minister to withdraw his comment and to address other members appropriately.

The SPEAKER: I uphold the point of order and ask the Deputy Premier to refer to members appropriately.

Mr JOHN WATKINS: I withdraw, Mr Speaker. I got carried away. The member for Barwon also suggested that there needed to be consolidation and consideration of the future of branch lines. Both the Iemma and the Rudd governments have heard that call. The Iemma Government is already discussing the long-term future of branch lines with the Federal Government through the Grain Rail Task Force.

Mr Andrew Stoner: Point of order: Standing Order 130 refers to a member not debating the matter to which the question relates. The Deputy Premier is doing that. My press release to which he referred is dated 2 May not 5 May. He is misleading the House.

The SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of The Nationals will resume his seat.

[Interruption]

The SPEAKER: Order! I place the Leader of The Nationals on three calls to order.

Mr JOHN WATKINS: I was very pleased when the Federal Government set aside $3 million in this year's budget to support the Grain Rail Task Force.

The SPEAKER: Order! I remind the Leader of The Nationals that he is on three calls to order.

Mr JOHN WATKINS: We look forward to the work of that task force and to the resolution of the long-term problem of grain haulage—which is something that concerns most Nationals west of the Blue Mountains if not those on the coast.