Senator Joyce is currently in North Queensland and yesterday lay down the challenge to Mr Rudd and Mr Garrett, who are also visiting the north of the state, to do something positive for the environment. This was a challenge to reduce greenhouse gases, to put a floor in sugar prices and support farmers, to diversify the industry base of the north and to give North Queenslanders the opportunity to benefit from the wealth of producing fuel.

Senator Joyce said the National party has a strong policy to mandate ethanol. He would support any party which came up with a federal policy to mandate ethanol. If this was Labor party policy, he would cross the floor to support it.

“Mr Rudd had the chance to be relevant, had the chance to make a positive contribution to the environment, a chance to reduce greenhouse gases, to make a positive contribution to the wealth of North Queensland and what was his reply? ‘He would consider it.’ The people of North Queensland don’t want Mr Consider It!

“The people of North Queensland want you to commit to it.” Senator Joyce said.

“It is like this – I saw a couple of kids the other day and they looked like they were going to throw rocks through a window. I asked them not to do it and they said ‘they would consider it’.

“This is a real statement of policy, and Mr Rudd has failed dismally.

“At least Mr Rudd could be fair dinkum and say he has no interest in it because he is looking after the strong lobbying forces of the major oil companies over the interest of alternate home-grown fuel producers.

“Don’t try to schmooze us with diplomatically correct political speak.”