Labor claiming credit for our farmers toil!?!
The arrogance of the Murray Watt and the Labor Party knows no bounds.
One minute climate change is going to destroy agriculture, next minute Labor are taking the credit for a record grain crop.
They just make it up as they go.
Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee
13/02/2024
Estimates
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FORESTRY PORTFOLIO
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Senator RENNICK: You have mentioned a few times today how climate change is having a devastating impact on farmers. I am not sure whether you are aware that Australia’s grain production for the last year was $32 billion, a record figure. I am not sure how you can possibly say, given the increase in Australia’s agriculture productivity, that Australian farmers are suffering from climate change any more than they have in the past, in terms of normal weather conditions.
Senator Watt: Thank you for recognising the record grain production that has occurred during the life of this government. It is a testament—
Senator McKENZIE: You cannot take responsibility for that; wow!
Senator Watt: I was about to say it’s a testament to the great work of our farmers.
Senator McKENZIE: It’s not North Korea.
Senator CANAVAN: I thought climate change was killing everything.
Senator Watt: I thanked Senator Rennick for acknowledging—
Senator McKENZIE: I want to thank our grain growers.
Senator Watt: I was halfway through saying that it is testament to the hard work of our farmers. Have a look at when you interrupted me and I think the last word I said was ‘testament’.
Senator RENNICK: No. The last words you said were that it was ‘under your government’. It sounded like you were about to take credit for the hard work of the farmers.
Senator Watt: No. You needed to listen for a bit longer.
CHAIR: Put it this way: I heard it, Minister.
Senator Watt: Thank you.
CHAIR: Are there any further questions, given I know Senators Duniam and Pocock have some?
Senator Watt: Senator Rennick, I know you won’t believe it, because you never do, but Dr Greenville—
Senator RENNICK: It’s not a religion, Murray. It is something that I analyse and understand.
Senator Watt: You’re right; it’s science. I agree with you on one thing, and that is that science is not a religion. Science is science. I wholeheartedly agree.
Senator RENNICK: Science is underpinned by mathematics, Murray.
Senator Watt: It is.
Senator McKENZIE: But science can actually be contested, too.
Senator Watt: On a serious note—
Senator RENNICK: Chair, thank you for your time. If Senator Watt would like to debate thermodynamics, I would welcome it. I am up for it at any time.
Senator Watt: On a serious note, the substantive role of Dr Greenville is as the head of ABARES. He and his team might be able to take you through their research, which found that, due to changes in seasonal conditions—
CHAIR: Why don’t we do it in a private briefing for the good senator, so that we can move on?
Senator Watt: Whatever you want.
