Senator BOSWELL (6:19 PM) —I rise today to support the motion for disallowance of the 40 per cent government rebate for the export certificate charges. I do not want to see the export markets that we fight so hard to obtain and hold made less competitive. The industry have said publicly that they do not believe that 12 months will be sufficient time to get the efficiencies through. Senator Milne has $20 million and that $20 million cuts out on 30 June next year. But we were told—and I listened carefully—that many of these efficiencies and reforms could take up to five or six years. Countries relied on having certificates from AQIS and they would not accept other forms of verification. You have to commend Senator Milne. She has tried, but I do not think that $20 million is going to satisfy the needs of the rest of the industries.

Another issue has come up. There is another way of licensing abattoirs and processing works. No-one knows what those costs will be. They could be a huge amount. They could be huge on smaller facilities such as processing works, refrigeration works, fish processing works and so forth. I have thought about this. I was even reluctant to get up to speak because the more I listen to this the more I understand it. Listening to the people from all industries coming to give evidence to the Senate committee, we were told: ‘We are happy for reforms. We want reforms. We are prepared to pay for reforms, but we are not going to take this huge leap in faith and pay on the never-never for something which we do not have.’

We want to see AQIS actually perform. We want to see AQIS say to some of these people who are redundant: ‘Here’s your redundancy. You can leave.’ Some AQIS inspectors do not even live in towns where there are abattoirs. I have one in mind who has to drive probably a couple of hundred miles from one town to another town. By the time he gets there, he has to drive back. Those are the inefficiencies that need to be cleaned up.

Twenty million dollars is a considerable sum—I do not deny that—but I do not think it will meet the needs of the industries that came before us. The cherry industry, for example—and Senator Milne would know these people because they come from Tasmania—virtually said that to get these efficiencies through, in terms where the government will accept other verifications, could take five years. If we abandon AQIS, it might take another eight to 14 years to get back in the Japanese market. Twenty million dollars is not going to solve the problems of the beef industry or the cherry industry. It is a short-term fix.

I am not churlish enough to say to Senator Milne that she has not tried, but I do not think that $20 million will take us across the line. I do not think it will fix the problems that the industries told us about in the Senate inquiry.

Senator Milne —Well what’s your proposal?

Senator BOSWELL —My proposal is that we take the $40 million that was put up, try to implement the reforms and, as the reforms become available, go to the exporters and say: ‘We can reduce your fees by this; you pay this. Pay as you go.’

This is a giant leap of faith. We will pay for something that we have not got, on the assumption that AQIS will deliver. AQIS then have to say to their employees: ‘Sorry, Fred. We have to sack you. We want reforms.’ It is understandable that they will not want to do that. They will be reluctant to do it, and you can understand that. Senator Milne, I think you have tried, but you have not gone far enough. You cannot buy some of these things. You are trying to buy your way out of this, and I do not think you can.

Senator Milne —It was Senator Colbeck who said $20 million would do it.

Senator BOSWELL —Twenty million dollars is a considerable amount of money, but it is not going to solve the problems of the cherry industry, which cannot get AQIS to sign off on its verifications. We are not playing around here with tiny industries; these are the biggest industries in Australia. They support and sustain the regional and rural communities. Goodness knows after Senator Wong has tried to garrotte them they are going to need all the support they can get.

Senator Sterle —Mr Acting Deputy President, I rise on a point of order. I think Senator Boswell’s comment was completely out of order and disrespectful to the minister. I think it should be withdrawn.

Senator BOSWELL —Mr Acting Deputy President, on the point of order: the minister is not a shrinking violet. She gives plenty. I am sure she can take a bit back. If she asks me to withdraw, I will withdraw in deference to her. I think she can play the game. She is pretty tough and robust. I do not think she would take offence at that.

Senator Wong —Mr Acting Deputy President, on the point of order: I thank Senator Boswell for what I think was a compliment, but ‘garrotting’ is a form of murder, so it is probably not the sort of thing that we say in this place, even when we are in a robust debate, which, as Senator Boswell says, I do not mind a bit of when appropriate and necessary. Perhaps you could use a better form of words.

The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT (Senator Humphries)—Are you withdrawing, Senator Boswell?

Senator BOSWELL —If it offends the minister, of course I withdraw, but I cannot think of a better description.

The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT —Senator Boswell, I think an unqualified withdrawal does not allow you to say what you have just said. Do you withdraw on an unqualified basis?

Senator BOSWELL —If that is what the minister requires, I will withdraw.

The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT —Thank you. Please proceed.

Senator BOSWELL —I have a bit of advice from my friend from Western Australia, who is a vet and does understand these things. He suggested the word ‘emasculate’, and that is what is going to happen to rural Australia with the ETS. This industry and all the industries that run fridges and electric motors and provide jobs in rural Australia do not need at this time another 40 per cent tax put on them. For that reason I support this disallowance motion—and I have thought this through. The $20 million only buys 12 months, and those reforms are impossible to implement in 12 months. You cannot do it. The industry has told us that we cannot do it. Senator Milne, if she is honest with herself, will say it cannot be done. I support the disallowance motion and I hope it is carried in the Senate.