Green, Sen Nita

Senator GREEN (Queensland) (09:53): Thank you, Deputy President. I'm very fortunate to be speaking on this important matter in the Senate today and to be able to correct a few factual mistakes from the senator who's leaving the chamber, not caring to listen about the truth of what's going on. It's important for the facts to be laid on the table. The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Senator Brockman, a point of order? Senator Brockman: Mr Deputy President, as you well know, there's a very strong convention in this place that we do not reflect on whether senators are in the chamber or not or whether senators are leaving the chamber or not. The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Yes, the point of order is well taken. It's not appropriate to reflect on the absence of a senator or their leaving or coming into the chamber. I'd ask you to restrain yourself, Senator Green. Senator GREEN: I accept that, but I do believe it's important to reflect on the interest shown by members. The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: It's a fair point of order. Senator McKenzie: I'd just like to make a note that the minister left the chamber prior to any response. So the senator is not going to listen to your ruling, Chair— The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Senator McKenzie, we take the point. I've asked the senator to reflect on the comments. Senator Green, if you're reflecting on their interest in a broad sense, that's fine. To reflect on whether they're in the chamber or not is not okay. Senator GREEN: I understood your ruling, and I will maintain that in the chamber here. It's important to reflect the facts that have been so clearly lost in the previous contribution. Members on this side care about the agriculture industry. In Queensland, we understand fully that 46 per cent of the national head of cattle are placed in Queensland. There are 11 million head of cattle in our home state, and beef manufacturing is the largest manufacturing sector in Queensland. We understand what is at risk. I don't know how many times those opposite have visited our beef manufacturing industries and spoken to workers in that industry, but I'm very, very aware— Senator Davey: Some of us have actually worked there. Sen ator GREEN: You've never known a manufacturing job you wouldn't want to casualise. We on this side of the chamber know that there is a lot at stake. That is why we are taking this issue incredibly seriously and ensuring that we deliver on the things that need to be done to make sure that we protect our beef industry in Australia. We understand that, as Senator Hanson raised, there are many factors to this. The senator may be inclined to take up the report of the Senate Environmental and Communications References Committee from last year about our feral pig industry—I know Senator Roberts probably did have a read of that—because this is an issue where we need to do our research and we need to collaborate. I would encourage the mover of this motion to accept the briefings from the minister, to work collaboratively with the minister, to ask the questions. I appreciate that this is an area of interest for Queensland senators who care about our industries, but we need to understand what the facts are and not listen to the people on the other side of the chamber who did nothing when it came to biosecurity, who did nothing to protect or prepare the resilience of our biosecurity measures. I am sure that the chamber will join— Senator McKenzie: That's not true. I'm happy to go through the previous budget with you. Senator GREEN: We know now that the members opposite are showing an interest in this issue, but for a very long time they didn't say anything about foot-and-mouth disease, they weren't interested in the facts. So now I'm here to correct the record, to make sure that people in Queensland understand that we are taking the steps to protect the industry and that we have been taking the steps to protect the industry since this started. Now, let's remember that this outbreak began under the former government, and we are accepting our responsibility of stepping up as the new government. We know that on Thursday 21 July the minister facilitated a briefing on foot-and-mouth disease for the Leader and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition. That's how seriously we are taking this. We are working collaboratively with those who want to work collaboratively with us. Last week the minister hosted a briefing with officials, updating members of parliament—working collaboratively, making sure that people know the facts and understand where we're at. Just last Thursday, the minister also updated the chamber on the measures to protect Australian farmers. In direct response to the emergence and the spread of foot-and-mouth disease in Indonesia, the government is ensuring that we have measures in place to protect our industry. For the first time ever there is deployment of sanitation foot mats in international airports. For the first time ever, the declaration of biosecurity responses and zones have been put in place in international airports, and biosecurity profiling of a hundred per cent of all travellers, including extra assessment for passengers who have recently been in Indonesia is happening. There's a hundred per cent of screening on all mail items coming in, and we're redeploying biosecurity detector dogs to priority ports, like my home of Cairns, and in Darwin. Biosecurity is the responsibility of all Australians, including those who sit opposite. I refer to the comments of the senator who spoke before me, Senator Hanson, with regard to fines for people who break the rules at airports and bring in items that are not allowed. Just this week a passenger coming back from Indonesia was heavily fined—a very expensive McMuffin, as it was referred to at the time. He was fined for breaking those rules, which shows that the system is working. Unfortunately, while this government has sought to be constructive and transparent, making sure that briefings are happening and that people have the information they need, those on the opposite side have chosen to be unnecessarily political on an issue of grave importance for our country. I take this opportunity to remind those opposite that, while they are happy to accuse us of not caring about this issue, of not understanding the fact and of not appreciating how important our industry is, what they are saying isn't actually correct. We know that we are taking further steps. We are considering what actions need to be taken, we are implementing those actions and we are thinking ahead, because we need to be prepared. We are making sure that all options are on the table. We are considering how we prepare our industry for this threat. This disease is something that we need to work on together to oppose. Farmers and the broader Australian community will be watching this place very clearly to see what is happening here. What we saw during COVID-19 in particular was an expectation from the community that the people in this place would work together to overcome threats to our health, our economy and our country. That is what the community expects now. The community, and particularly the agriculture industry, expect people in this place to work together. Of course, the hard questions should be asked. Senator Roberts, I understand why you are asking the questions and making sure that we are being transparent and accountable, but I would encourage you not to listen to the noise from the opposition—who literally did nothing when they were in charge—but to understand that this is something that we are taking incredibly seriously. We are making sure that when the minister is given advice he is sharing that advice with the people who need to understand what measures need to be put in place and he is then putting those measures in place. Unlike those opposite, the measures have been put in place. Under those opposite, there were no foot mats, no powers, no plan—nothing. When they were in power and there was an outbreak, no measures were put in place. But on this side of the chamber, when the minister understands the threat, he takes the advice and ensures that measures are appropriate, are constructive and are not alarmist, and he then puts those measures in place. I know it's very uncomfortable for those to hear, but we do have the support of the agriculture industry—from the National Farmers Federation, and people who know this industry better— Senator McKenzie interjecting— Senator GREEN: I think it's fair— Senator McKenzie: We all want you to be successful! Senator GREEN: I take that interjection, and I ask the chair to bring the chamber to order so I can finish my contribution in the small amount of time I have to make it clear to all Australians that the agriculture industry supports the measures that this side of the chamber is taking. The industry is telling those opposite that they are wrong, that they are not helping, that making this a political issue is unhelpful to the problem and that it wants to see everyone work collaboratively and make sure that we do everything in our power to protect our important industries. That is what we on this side of the chamber are doing. That is what the agriculture industry is supporting right now. We know that it is difficult to be over there on that side of the chamber. You're trying to find reasons to stand up and beat your chest, but the truth is that you didn't do anything when you're in power. You didn't have a chance. You didn't put in foot mats. You didn't put in biosecurity zones. We have taken that action. I'm sorry to say— (Time expired) The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT ( Senator Chandler ): Before I call Senator Price, I will remind senators that interjections are always disorderly, and, if we could try and listen to the contributions of other senators without making interjections, that would be appreciated. I recognise that this is an emotive debate.