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Monday, 29 October 2012
Page: 12305

Mr SCHULTZ (Hume) (19:57): Once again we heard a very colourful contribution by the Hon. Bob Katter. Can I say from the outset that I have spoken on the export marketing process on a number of occasions now. I spoke first of all in this chamber on 20 June 2007. I spoke again in the debate that occurred in the appropriation bill on 4 June 2008, some 12 months later. Both of my contributions were centred around the action that was taken by the then Howard government to do something about the corrupt entity that was known as AWB Ltd—a corrupt entity that, I might add, created massive problems for wheat exporters.

This bill, the Wheat Export Marketing Amendment Bill 2012 is centred around the marketing of export wheat—I emphasise that: the marketing of export wheat. It is not centred around the wheat industry as a whole. I will go into that in more detail shortly. I have to say to you that this is a very complex issue, because there are a number of factors associated with this marketing bill that not too many people think about from time to time. The factors are centred around the geographics of the wheat export business on a state-by-state basis and the infrastructure needs and the way in which each of the grower groups within those states operates.

In Western Australia, as an example, they have the unique, very successful industry process whereby the growers actually have a cooperative that looks after the—

The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Mr Symon ): Order! It being 8pm, the debate is interrupted in accordance with standing order 34. The resumption of the debate will be made an order of the day for the next sitting. The member for Hume will have leave to continue speaking when the debate is resumed.