Senator WATT (Queensland—Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Minister for Emergency Management) (09:49): I very much welcome the opportunity to yet again put on the record this government's strong biosecurity response to foot-and-mouth disease. I will reserve most of my remarks until tomorrow morning, when Senator Roberts has asked me to appear in the chamber. I am glad to see that he is still here; I wasn't sure whether he was. So I will come back with a formal answer to the motion tomorrow. But I did want to take the opportunity to make a few brief remarks to remind the chamber of the Albanese government's response to foot-and-mouth disease, which, as I have said many times, is the strongest response we have seen from any Australian government to any biosecurity threat in our national history. It is far stronger than any biosecurity response we saw from the former government, whether it be about foot-and-mouth disease—which, we might remind them, first got to Indonesia when they were still in office—or any other biosecurity threat. We know that the latest the former government was advised about the foot-and-mouth outbreak in Indonesia was on 9 May, when former Minister Littleproud first tweeted about it. We also know that the only thing he did in response to that news was to send a tweet. Did we see foot mats put in airports? No. Did we see foot mats even ordered for airports? No. Did we see biosecurity response zones declared in international airports, as we have done? No. Did we see an increase in biosecurity officers in airports and mail centres? No. Did we see any of the measures that the Albanese government has put in place in response to the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak when Minister Littleproud was the minister, when Senator McKenzie was in cabinet, when Senator Cash was in cabinet, when Senator Scarr was in the government, when Senator Canavan was in the government? When any of these people were in government, did they do any of those things that the Albanese government has put in place to deal with the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak? The answer is no, not one. In fact, Senator McKenzie was so concerned about the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak reaching Bali or reaching Indonesia that she didn't say a word about it. We have had a look at Senator McKenzie's social media to discern exactly how concerned she was about the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. Did Senator McKenzie put up anything or express any concern when foot-and-mouth disease hit Indonesia in May, when her government was still in power? Well, she certainly wasn't concerned enough to say anything publicly about it or to put anything in her social media. In fact, when did Senator McKenzie first bother to express concern about foot-and-mouth disease in Indonesia? It wasn't until 19 July. So the outbreak had been in Indonesia for over two months before Senator McKenzie expressed concern. She comes in here, pretends to be the friend of farmers, pretends to be concerned about these issues—she was so concerned about it that she remained absolutely silent for more than two months. It was only when there was a Labor government in power that was taking action about biosecurity and foot-and-mouth disease that she felt concerned enough to even get her thumbs out and send a little tweet or make a little Facebook post. So don't give me this rubbish about how you people are the people who are concerned about this outbreak. You were the government when this outbreak first got to Indonesia. You didn't do foot mats. You didn't even order foot mats. You didn't do biosecurity response zones. You don't employ extra biosecurity officers. You didn't check every mail package coming in from Indonesia and China, which we are doing. You didn't make the changes to SmartGates, which we are doing. You just sat on your hands, and only one of you sent a tweet. Senator McDonald interjecting— Senator WATT: If you want to have a chat, Senator McDonald, we had a look at your social media. When did Senator McDonald first express concern on social media about this outbreak? Her first post was 14 July. So, Senator McDonald, who likes to claim that she is the guardian of the interests of the cattle industry, was so alarmed by this that she didn't send any posts in May, when the outbreak first got to Indonesia. She didn't even send anything in June. She waited until 14 July before she put anything up on social media. That's how concerned they were. So, while these people were all lounging and having post-election holidays, who was acting to deal with the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak? It was me, and it was this government. That's who was actually doing something. You all went on your holidays. You didn't bother doing any social media. You didn't bother doing any consultation with industry for more than two months, and then you finally woke from your slumber, got your thumbs out and sent a couple of tweets. Job done. Wow, what a big job that is! The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Senator Scarr, a point of order? Senator Scarr: A point of order on personal reflections: I am 100 per cent sure on this— The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Through me, Senator Scarr. Senator Scarr: that there were a number of personal reflections made accusing my colleagues of being lazy, of being on holidays and of not consulting with constituents or stake bodies. I am 100 per cent sure that those personal reflections are unsustainable. The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Senator Scarr, you are debating the point. Senator Watt, just reflect on your language. Senator WATT: Sure. I note that Senator Scarr didn't bother to jump when various personal reflections were made against members on the side of this chamber, but that's a member for you, Senator Scarr. As I said, I welcome any opportunity to get up and talk about the strong biosecurity response from this government. I've already listed the things that we did which the former government didn't bother doing in any of the time that they were in office. Not only did they not take any of these actions in response to the outbreak in Indonesia, they never took action in any way, such as this government has done, about any of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks that occurred during their time in office. They were in office for nearly 10 years. In response to any of the 70 outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease across the world in the time that they were in power, did they put down foot mats? No. Did they order foot mats? No. Did they declare national biosecurity zones? No. Did they do any of the things that we did? There were 70 outbreaks across the world, and not once did they do any of the things that this government has done. As I said the other day, this government has done more on biosecurity in nine weeks than the former government did in nine years. It's no surprise, then, that industry has had a fair bit to say about the government's response and about the way the opposition has handled this matter. It's disappointing that we continue to see members of the opposition continue with the alarmist rhetoric that they were carrying on with last week. I know that you've all heard the calls from industry, asking you to pull your heads in. I know that. You know that. You've all had the calls saying, 'You are damaging our reputation overseas through your alarmist rhetoric.' I know that you have had the same calls that I have had from industry saying that overseas customers are watching what you are saying and it is already impacting on our trade. I know you've had those calls. I've had the calls as well. You really need to reflect on what you're doing and on your continued hysteria around this very serious issue. Turning to the false claims of both Senator Roberts and Senator McKenzie about the way I have responded to these issues, if you'd actually bothered to look, you'd see I came into the chamber the other day and provided answers to Senator Roberts's questions and Senator McKenzie's questions. Those answers have already been provided. You like to get up and say that we haven't responded to things. Those answers have been provided, so maybe you should go back and have a look at your own inboxes to see what's there. In the process of making these accusations, Senator McKenzie in particular has verballed me on at least two occasions. I have never accused farmers of being hysterical about the response. The people I have accused of being hysterical are members of the National Party and other members of the opposition. That's who is being hysterical here. If you don't want to believe me on this, refer back to the comments from one of the leaders of NSW Farmers last week, who said that he was disgusted that this was being politicised and that certain people were fanning the flames. I wonder who he was talking about. So if you want to think about who is being hysterical here, have a good look in the mirror. It's not about farmers. Farmers quite understandably have concerns about this risk, and their concerns are being escalated and wound up by people who are playing politics, by people who are being labelled by the industry as playing politics. That's who is being hysterical here. Senator McKenzie keeps making the claim that I have misled parliament. It is absolute bollocks. She continues to quote selectively from answers that I have provided to the chamber. I can direct her to the Hansard of the day we're talking about where I was very clear. I will read out what I said to the chamber: 'I will confirm yet again—I'm probably up to five times, six times, seven times'—I actually think I'm probably up to about 28 times now. For the 28th time, I can confirm 'that 100 per cent of passengers since the foot mats were in place on Monday and Tuesday' have walked through those foot mats. That's what I said. You know it and you continue to verbal me. The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: A point of order? Senator McKenzie: I have probably asked the question of the minister not, maybe, 28 times, but pretty close, and he still hasn't answered the question. The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: You're contesting. Senator McKenzie: I didn't ask about since the foot mats had actually been put in place, Minister. The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: That's not a point of order. Senator WATT: If anyone wants to question my integrity, and put it up against Senator McKenzie's, I would welcome that, because we all know Senator McKenzie has got a few issues, which I've always had the decency to not raise, around her administration of former portfolios which go directly to her integrity. S enator McKenzie interjecting— Senator WATT: The queen of sports rorts wants to argue with me about integrity. Really? The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Senator Watt, just keep it on point, please. Senator WATT: Oh, we're a bit defensive now, are we? So, integrity can be raised in one direction, but not in the other direction. The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Through me I've given you a reasonable amount of rope, Senator Watt. Please join me halfway across the bridge. Senator WATT: Thank you, Deputy President. I note Senator McKenzie is very sensitive every time we raise matters relating to her integrity, especially sports rorts. Senator McKenzie: Point of order, Deputy President: the senator is reflecting on another senator. He's claiming I'm sensitive. I think those that know me well would find that odd. The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Senator McKenzie, you've have made your point. Senator Watt, please give some consideration to the language and tone you are using. Senator WATT: Thank you, Deputy President. I have the utmost respect for your ruling. Senator McKenzie interjecting— The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Senator McKenzie, you're not assisting me. Senator WATT: As I say, I'm very happy to provide a full response to Senator Roberts's motion tomorrow, and will take yet another opportunity tomorrow to talk about the strong biosecurity response of this government. The only thing I will say, in closing, is that I don't know why anyone would listen to Senator Roberts on matters involving vaccines. Senator Roberts is one of the people who've been pedalling conspiracy theories for the last two years about COVID vaccines, and now he wants to come in here as the so-called expert when it comes to animal vaccines. I don't know why anyone would listen to Senator Roberts. Senator Roberts: I have a point of order. He's misleading the Senate again, because I haven't been peddling conspiracy theories; I've been peddling data—hard, solid, scientific data. The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Senator Roberts, that's debating the point. Senator Watts can have his view. It may or may not be in concurrence with your own. Senator Watts, you're working me this morning. Senator WATT: We all know about Senator Roberts and his so-called empirical evidence, which he seems to get out of the dark web. I don't know where he finds it. I don't why anyone would listen to Senator Roberts on any matter to do with animal vaccines, plant products or human vaccines, but if he wants to continue asking questions about vaccines, I am very happy to provide him with factual, science based evidence. Senator Hanson and Senator Roberts, I know you struggle with science and I know you struggle with evidence, but I'm happy to keep providing it to you because I genuinely hope that you, like me, have a deep concern about making sure that Australia remains foot-and-mouth-disease free, which we are, and that we are properly prepared for an outbreak if one were to occur. That is certainly what I'm working on. I hope that you join with me, as I hope the opposition joins with me, in that regard. The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Senator Cash? Senator Whish-Wilson, are you making a point of order or are you seeking the call? Senator Whish-Wilson: You have jurisdiction as to who receives the call, but it has been to the LNP, to One Nation and to the Labor Party, and the Greens haven't had a chance to make a contribution. The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Senator Cash caught my eye. I'll go to Senator Whish-Wilson and then I'll go to Senator Hanson.