STATEMENTS BY SENATORS

Senator COLBECK (Tasmania) (13:33): Yesterday I made some comments regarding the terrible treatment of potato growers in Tasmania from the company that processes their potatoes, Simplot, and the fact that, despite me having convened a meeting of potato growers, some growers were too frightened to come and speak to me as one of their elected members for fear of retribution from Simplot.

Simplot have given the growers a date to send back an intention to grow potatoes for them this season with the volumes that they'd like to grow. If they don't send it back, Simplot won't guarantee them supply of seed. Fortunately, the potato growers are holding pretty firm against this, but they're still being subjected to great pressure by Simplot.

I don't think it's reasonable that the companies that sell those products—Coles, Woolworths, McDonald's—get off scot-free because, as I've said, they have all these impositions on farmers and growers and the supply chain. Also, the situation exists with the government, because the Treasurer has said on a number of occasions, with respect to strengthening the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct, that it's about getting a fair go for families and getting a fair go for farmers.

Well, can I tell you, neither of them are getting a fair go. This whole business about the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct providing a fair go for farmers is a complete scam because these farmers don't qualify under the code. Families buying processed potato products at the supermarket are paying about 3.2 or 3.5 per cent more, and potato growers in my home state are being asked to grow their potatoes for 2.5 per cent less.

Now who is getting a fair deal out of that? I can tell you. It's nobody.

The government's not doing anything and Simplot's bad behaviour simply cannot be excused.