Daniel McCullochVerified account

Watt says it's no coincidence the proposed agency would be based in Orange, which the NSW Nationals lost in a damaging byelection last year.

Senator David Lleyenholm also comes out swinging against the Regional Investment Corporation, arguing "bleaters" should be left to go broke.

Lleyenholm: "I love Australian agriculture, and that is why I condemn this bill."

Nationals senator Barry O'Sullivan rejects idea some farmers are whingers looking for government handouts, saying they're very proud people.

O'Sullivan: the agency isn't getting new funds, but bringing existing funds under the one commonwealth roof to make it easier to administer.

"I reject absolutely any sort of blanket assumption that a large number of people in this industry, or these industries, are bleaters."

"Like everything, there are some of them that don't do it as well as they could, or as well as they should."

"But the largest volume of them are very, very efficient operators."