Michael Ronaldson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I again thank Senator Sinodinos for that excellent question. Under this Australia-China free trade agreement, 95 per cent of our exports to China—that is, our wine, with tariffs which are up to 30 per cent at the moment; our beef, with tariffs of up to 25 per cent; our seafood, 15 per cent; our dairy, with tariffs of 20 per cent; our lamb; our cheese; our services; as well as our resources sector—will be entirely duty free. As Senator Sinodinos knows, those in the regions need stable, full-time, highly paid, long-term jobs. This agreement is great for the regions. For them to vote against ChAFTA means that they are voting against the regions. Those who vote against ChAFTA are voting against those workers in the regions and those workers that we want in the regions. If you look at what the benefits are, you need to go no further than the $760 million Whitehaven Coal project. (Time expired)