QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator AYRES (New South Wales—Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science) (16:01): Well, there is no immediate national shortage of fertilisers—no immediate national shortage. But planting season— The PRESIDENT: Senator Kovacic, I haven't called you. Minister Ayres, please resume your seat.

Senator Kovacic? Senator Kovacic: On relevance, and for clarification, I didn't say that there were shortages. I asked what was in place to manage potential shortages.

The PRESIDENT: Sure. I think that's a debating point, but the minister—and I'm not quite sure— Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Thank you! Order!

Minister, please continue. Senator AYRES: I was nine seconds in and just pointing out that there's no immediate national shortage of fertilisers. But winter planting is commencing and, in some parts of the economy, harvesting is happening at the same time.

We do rely upon imports. I met, together with Ministers Bowen and Collins, with the National Farmers' Federation and fertiliser industry representatives just last week. That was the second meeting that we'd had.

We are continuing to work through making sure that we are contributing what we can here to secure supplies of fertiliser for Australian farmers who need it. The PRESIDENT: Senator Kovacic, second supplementary?