Kim Beazley (Brand, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Can the minister confirm that former AWB CEO Murray Rogers is one of his key advisers? Can he confirm that Mr Rogers is chair of the minister’s Quarantine and Exports Advisory Council and a key member of the government’s Agriculture and Food Policy Reference Group? If the member for O’Connor is right and AWB chair Brendan Stewart is the National Party’s mate No. 1, what does that make Mr Rogers?

Peter McGauran (Gippsland, National Party, Deputy Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I can confirm that Mr Murray Rogers was a participant in the policy reference group, better known as the Corish report. That work has been completed and was completed several months ago. Mr Rogers is chairman of the quarantine advisory committee. I believe he should remain in that position until the Cole commission reports and the government will take account of the commissioner’s report.