Mrs Harvey questions the Premier on the WA government's response to Chinese barley tariffs. The Premier defends his government's actions, highlighting communication with the Prime Minister and involvement of the Minister for Agriculture and Food.

AnsweredQoN 286Legislative Assembly
Asked
14 May 2020
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QuestionView source ↗

BARLEY EXPORTS —
CHINESE TARIFFS
286. Mrs L.M. HARVEY to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question.
Can the Premier explain how the situation has become so dire that Western Australian
farmers are now facing an 80 per cent barley tariff with fewer than 10 days to
respond, or was the government dealing with this issue prior to Sunday's
announcement?

AnswerView source ↗

I do not know whether the Leader of
the Opposition has put her question to the Prime Minister. It is a matter that
the commonwealth government largely runs, not the state government. Is the
Leader of the Opposition suggesting that I make contact with the Chinese
embassy?
Mrs L.M. Harvey : I am asking
if you have made any contact or have you done anything about this over the last
12 months.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I have
explained that. I think the response has been appropriate and I have involved
the Minister for Agriculture and Food. Is the Leader of the Opposition
suggesting that I make contact with the Chinese embassy? I am trying to
understand what she wants me to do in addition to what we have done.
Mrs L.M. Harvey : I read in The
West that that is what you offered to do. I am asking whether you have done
that.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I have
explained to the Leader of the Opposition what I have done. I reached out to
the Prime Minister, with whom I have a good relationship, to offer our support.
I have authorised the Minister for Agriculture and Food to convene a meeting
and I understand that she has made those contacts. We have expressed our view
that although foreign affairs is a matter for the commonwealth government, good
diplomatic relationships with longstanding trading partners are more than
appropriate. I do not understand what the member is asking me to do. Is she
asking me to call the Chinese ambassador? She has asked me two days in a row
but I do not know what she wants me to do in addition to what we have done. Is
she saying that I should do that?
Mrs L.M. Harvey : Can you
explain what your offer is that was in The West ?
Mr M. McGOWAN : I put the offer to the commonwealth to
assist if it would like the assistance.
Mrs L.M. Harvey interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition! You had two cracks.

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