Senator CONROY —My question is to Senator Herron, the Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs. I refer to the minister's answer yesterday to a question about the impact of the GST on indigenous communities, in which he said:

While some food items might increase, many in fact will be cheaper because we will abolish Labor's hidden tax—the wholesale sales tax—

For the benefit of indigenous communities, could the minister name the many foods which will be cheaper?

Senator HERRON (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs) —All those that are taxed now.

Senator CONROY —Madam President, I ask a supplementary question. Isn't it a fact that the only food items that attract a WST are fruit and vegetable juices?

Government senators —Wrong!

The PRESIDENT —Order! Senators should appreciate that Senator Herron needs to hear the question.

Senator CONROY —Isn't it also a fact that these items attract only a 12 per cent sales tax applied to the wholesale price, as opposed to the government's GST, which will see a 10 per cent tax applied to the retail price, thus making these items more expensive under the GST than they would be under the existing tax system?

Senator HERRON —The supplementary question is based on totally false premises, and I would ask Senator Conroy: when have you been to an Aboriginal community? I will guarantee you that there is no record of Senator Conroy ever having been to an Aboriginal community, either remote, rural or anywhere, and I reject the statements made in his supplementary question.