Senator McKENZIE (Victoria—Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience, Minister for Regionalisation, Regional Communications and Regional Education and Leader of The Nationals in the Senate) (14:50): It's fantastic to have Senator Watt ask a question about agriculture. He's been here a while. He talks a big game from Brisbane on behalf of rural and regional Queensland. But it's fantastic. I hope he's also met with the NFF— Honourable senators interjecting— Senator McKENZIE: Well, I'm sorry, I'm from the south—Brisbane, Gold Coast—it's all the same to me. He talks a big game. I'm hoping you have met with AgForce, who is the Queensland representative on the NFF, because they actually have very strong views on this particular issue. They are very, very clear that, whilst obviously agriculture is making great inroads into lowering emissions and different production systems, whether it's the grains industry and carbon sequestration or whether it is the beef industry, committing to net zero by 2030 without a carbon tax, I might say, which your government— The PRESIDENT: Senator Watt, on a point of order? Senator Watt: On relevance, Mr President. I know that Senator McKenzie isn't close enough to the farming community to know that there's a difference between the NFF and AgForce— The PRESIDENT: Senator Watt, sit down! Points of order are not an opportunity to make gratuitous comments across the chamber. You have the call, but please make a point of order. Senator Watt: On relevance, the question was about the National Farmers Federation rather than any other farming group that the minister chooses to talk about. The PRESIDENT: Senator Canavan, on the point of order? Sen ator Canavan: On the point of order, if Senator Watt actually knew something about the agricultural industry, he would know that AgForce is a member of the NFF. So it's exactly relevant! The PRESIDENT: Senator Canavan! Senator Canavan: But he knows nothing about farmers— The PRESIDENT: Senator Canavan, resume your seat! Senator Wong, on the point of order? Senator Wong: Mr President, I'd ask you to reflect after question time. You did deal very sternly with Senator Watt very quickly. Senator Canavan continued to ignore your— The PRESIDENT: I was— Senator Wong: I haven't finished my submission, Mr President. Government senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order, on my right! Senator Wong: We just want even-handedness. The PRESIDENT: Senator Wong, I was calling Senator Canavan to order. Senator Watt, had you completed your point of order? Senator Watt: I had. The PRESIDENT: I was listening very carefully to the answer. You've had the chance to direct the minister back to the question. I do not believe I need to do more than that at this point. I am listening carefully to the answer. Minister, you have the call. Senator McKENZIE: I speak to Fiona Simson, the president of the NFF, regularly. I also speak to Georgie Somerset, the president of AgForce and a member of your own farmers federation, the National Farmers Federation. They've made it very, very clear to me, to the coalition and to the National Party party room in the context of this debate that farmers have done their fair share, that they have done the heavy lifting and that they want that recognised. Do you know why they did the heavy lifting? Because of the Queensland government's native vegetation laws? It is because of the Palaszczuk state labor government's— The PRESIDENT: Senator Wong on a point of order? Senator Wong: Mr President, the point of order is on direct relevance. The question went to the statement by the president of the NFF as to how, if Australia does not adopt net zero by 2050, it will punish farmers and whether or not Ms Simpson was wrong. I didn't raise a point of order earlier about the lengthy discussion about AgForce et cetera, but this is now an entirely different subject. Government senators interjecting— Senator Wong: You forget that I was shadow minister for trade. A lot of people still do. You should remember that. The PRESIDENT: Order! This is not an opportunity for discussion across the chamber. Senator Wong, please complete your point of order. Senator Wong: I think I have; thank you, Mr President. The PRESIDENT: Senator Canavan on the point of order? Senator Canavan: The minister was clearly referring to the arguments that the National Farmers Federation have made this week around their position which relate to tree clearing and native vegetation laws around this country. The PRESIDENT: I am prepared to make a ruling now. Senator Wong, while I believe that Senator McKenzie has not been in breach of standing orders, I am listening carefully to the answer. I do think there is a risk of straying, but I do not believe that Senator McKenzie has strayed from the question. S enator McKENZIE: I think I did touch all the high notes—the National Farmers Federation, Fiona Simpson and net zero. What farmers are absolutely sick and tired of is a Labor Party that doesn't understand the contribution that they make and that they want to be compensated and recognised for the contribution they have already made to the reduction in emissions in this country. (Time expired) The PRESIDENT: Senator Watt, a supplementary question?