The Honourable Duncan Gay Response to Notice of Motion

The Hon. DUNCAN GAY (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) [5.12 p.m.]: I take the unusual action to speak tonight about motion of which notice was given in this House this morning. This was a grubby work of fiction that Labor members attempted to use in the lower House today to demean me and other people. Every time Labor members mention Roger Fletcher, who is one of the most respected people in regional New South Wales, it only helps my reputation. Any of the country members from the Labor Party who are in this place know the widespread respect for Roger Fletcher within regional New South Wales—to the extent that he was invited to the 2020 Summit in Canberra. Roger is a friend of many people in the Labor Party, a donor to all parties, and a supporter of candidates who he feels are doing the right thing. He has never done anything in his personal interest; he only ever does things in the interests of the community and business.

The notice of motion states first that I am the duty member of the Legislative Council for Dubbo. That is correct. Secondly, it states that between 2003 and 2007 Roger Fletcher donated $30,400 to the National Party and National Party candidates. I would not have a clue about that. He may well have. If that claim is as inaccurate as the rest of the motion, it is probably wrong. Thirdly, the motion states that I used question time on two occasions to ask questions about matters relating to Mr Fletcher's business interests. That is wrong: I have never asked a question relating to Mr Fletcher's business interests. On 10 November 2005 I asked a question of the Minister for Primary Industries criticising Government policy. I said:

My question without notice is directed to the Minister for Primary Industries. Will the Minister explain why Fletchers abattoir in Dubbo learned about the new ovine Johne's disease transaction-based contribution scheme for which it is the collection agent for this Government only after reading it in the Land newspaper? Why did the Department of Primary Industries not contact Fletchers with this information in the first place? How many other businesses are in the same position? Does the Minister believe that this is good enough, and what will he do to address this problem in the future? Will the Minister apologise to Mr Fletcher for his continued incompetence?

That was an industry-based question asked by the shadow Minister for Primary Industries at the time—that is, me. Mr Fletcher is a member of Australian Wool Innovations and a member of the Meat Industry Council. This was a question on behalf of the industry. I have never asked a question on behalf of Mr Fletcher's business. The notice of motion also said that I directed a question to the Minister for Roads criticising Roads and Traffic Authority prosecutions of overloaded grain trucks. This included trucks owned by Mr Fletcher. To that extent the Daily Telegraph, which wrote the stuff for the Labor Party through Nathan Rees—who is not the most observant man in the world—got it wrong when it reported:

Last year Mr Gay asked Roads Minister Eric Roozendaal in Parliament why the RTA had prosecuted Fletchers for overloading its trucks.

What did I actually ask? My question was:

I direct my question without notice to the Minister for Roads. Is the Minister aware that the Roads and Traffic Authority has searched through Graincorp records dating back to November 2005 and has just issued court attendance notices to several drivers for overloading breaches? Why is the Minister pursuing these breaches more than 18 months on? Is this merely a revenue-raising venture for the Roads and Traffic Authority? Is the Minister aware that this has caused great angst among some drought-stricken farmers, many of whom are bordering on depression because of this drought?

Can anyone in this House see where Mr Fletcher was mentioned anywhere? Labor members have tried to slight good people by suggesting a connection. The Hon. Amanda Fazio went on in the notice of motion to refer to a sawmilling company called Ramiens Timber. The question I asked on Ramiens Timber was:

My question is directed to the Minister for Primary Industries. Did the Minister threaten to cancel a meeting with the Dubbo cypress pine industry last Friday if the Opposition spokesman [turned up]?

That is hardly a situation in which I am going to collect money. It is a joke. [Time expired.]