REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AUSTRALIA FUND

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS (14:44): I have a supplementary question. Will the minister confirm whether she has written or spoken to the minister to ask for the money that she claims has been ripped out to be given back to South Australia?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (14:44): Of course I have, and what is more I have reported it in this place. Not only have I written and spoken to the Hon. Mr Barnaby Joyce about the farm financing, we still have not received a contract to sign. The federal government still has not provided us with the contract to sign. I have also written to, I think, the Minister for Agriculture and the minister for regions and the Prime Minister.

I ask the Hon. John Dawkins who he has written to amongst his federal friends, who has he written to, to stand up and support our regions and our farmers. Who has he written to? How many letters has he written? Who has he phoned to stand up and support our regions, because I certainly have? I ask each and every one of them sitting opposite me: who have they written to amongst their federal colleges to stand up, to have the guts to stand up, and fight for South Australians farmers? How many of them have written? How many of them have picked up the phone? Not one—complete silence, complete and utter silence! They are a bunch of cowards.