Bruce Billson (Dunkley, Liberal Party, Minister for Small Business) Share this | Hansard source

Not only have we delivered the biggest jobs and small business package in our nation's history; we are now opening the door to hundreds of millions of new prospective customers. As for the member for Barton, very ably representing the more than 13½ thousand businesses in his electorate: they are looking to export into this North Asian opportunity, which is a delicious world of possibilities for our businesses. When you think about the fact that there is $100 billion worth of goods going to China under the agreement that Minister Robb has negotiated, 95 per cent of our exports to China will be tariff-free when this agreement is fully into effect.

This is great news for small business and for farming and family enterprises, and it is worth remembering that 90 per cent of Australia's exporters are SMEs but by value it is only five per cent of our export earnings. So there is an enormous opportunity, given that high degree of SME engagement in exports into North Asia and particularly into China, to grow that economic activity and to see the jobs and prosperity flow from it.

Here are a couple of examples from the member's electorate. Frutex are currants and raisin exporters—a great business in the local member's electorate already exporting into Asia but wanting to do more, and they will be able to do more and be encouraged by this trade agreement. Fardoulis Chocolates—I tell you they are unrivalled in reputation for crafting superior, distinctive and great-tasting chocolates. They are looking to delight more citizens in North Asia, including many of the 900,000 visitors from China who come to our country, participate in our economy and are delighted by what we do.

These agreements are very important to shift from the mining boom to the dining boom, but let's not forget how spectacular the service opportunities are under these agreements. We know that services are 70 per cent of our domestic economy, though only 17 per cent of our export income—another enormous opportunity for Australian businesses. This is not about exporting things but about exporting knowhow, education and training in the financial services sector, telecommunications sector, and health and ageing. It is a great opportunity for Australian small businesses, and we should get behind it.

I have done a bit of research and I have realised why the Leader of the Opposition is not a fan of this agreement. When he was the tsar of the AWU, at the 2004 Victorian Labor Party conference he seconded a motion moved by his union mate Dave Oliver to oppose the trade deal—not any particular deal but even trying to negotiate a deal. This shows you what is wrong with this opposition leader. This is why this xenophobic campaign needs to be stared down and defeated. It is not the detail of the deal being negotiated; Labor hates the idea of any deal with China. They want to shut the door to these opportunities. It is on the record there from 2004. You need to change your way, Leader of the Opposition. (Time expired)

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