Senator NEAL (6:40 PM) —I find this one of the most extraordinary amendments that has come before us on this bill. The only thing I can think of is that it arises from some confusion by the Democrats about where their constituency lies. Previously, they were satisfied with coffee shop yuppies and libertarian Christians but now they are extending their influence to the bush, where they think they can pick up a few votes by telling those people on the land that no matter how large or how—

Senator Stott Despoja —How dare you take a point of order on me and then come up with this insulting rubbish. Address the amendments, Senator.

Senator NEAL —I might say that it gratifies me to get a response. To suggest that property owners, farmers, who already get a 50 per cent discount and who, frankly, come out of this scheme extraordinarily well, should have it extended to 100 per cent—and I think there is a fallback position of 75 per cent—is quite preposterous.

There is probably an argument to say that farmers in particular, because their farm is often their residence as well, should be given some equivalence with the rest of the community—they should be provided with some discount on their asset—but to say that it should be entirely disregarded no matter what the value is quite extraordinary. I do not know what the costing of this is. I am sure that if I sat down the minister and her advisers could tell us. When I weigh these up against the other groups who are very badly off, to see the Democrats putting forward this proposition as some sort of priority is quite extraordinary.