Tim Wilson (Goldstein, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I begin my speech by refuting one of the comments that was made by the previous speaker. If he'd done any analysis of the size and concentration of the populations of Singapore and Australia, he would know how absurd it was to say that the delivery of a national broadband network or equivalent is not comparable between the two countries. I know it's a fantasy when you live in a world where money means nothing, it has no consequences, and you're prepared to spend other people's money to infinity, but it is not a practical or realistic way to do things.

Let's get past that. Let's talk about the issue at hand, which is to congratulate ASEAN on its 50th anniversary as an important part of regional stability and economic cooperation between some of the great countries in our South-East Asia region. I particularly congratulate its 10 members: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Burma-Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Every Australian has some affection with one or many of those countries because they have had the opportunity to be able to visit and enjoy the warm embrace that comes from those countries and their cultures.

When you look at the challenges that our region has faced since the creation of ASEAN, it has provided a regional framework of stability as well as economic opportunity for a country that seeks to grow economically like ours. But, being a passionate advocate for free trade, this is not a unilateral relationship. This is one built on the ideals of mutual prosperity and support, particularly in dealing with and tackling some of the great challenges we face as a region around promoting economic growth and opportunity to reduce levels of poverty across the region. That's in their interests and it's in ours.

By having a free and open economic community among South-East Asia nations, we help to contribute to that. We did that no better than by signing a free trade agreement in 2010 which has been the bedrock of our economic relationship since that time. The free trade agreement gives Australian exporters the opportunity to be able to export goods into the region at a desirable arrangement. But, equally, it makes sure that those economies integrate further into the Australian economy to the interests of everybody. Sometimes I'd like to see more opportunities in FTAs, like the embrace of service based liberalisation, but let's take the baseline where it is and say, 'That's fantastic,' and build on it and grow.

The consequences have been quite significant. Australia's two-way trade with ASEAN countries amounts to over $25 billion in the past decade and now exceeds our trade with the United States and Japan. When you think about the opportunity that has provided for Australian exporters in being able to leverage the potential to nearby neighbours who want to consume the best of what we as a country can produce, it should not be understated. The strength of the Australian economy has always been that we're able to produce more than we consume, but we need reliable trading partners to make sure that we can ingratiate ourselves and create opportunities, including export opportunities, for Australians so that people can enjoy the offerings of this great country.

Australia's relationship with ASEAN commenced in 1974. Our relationship is now in its 43rd year. In that time it has only grown deeper, particularly as a consequence of programs like the Colombo Plan, which enabled people from across ASEAN countries to come to Australia to learn, understand our systems of law practice and service based industries, and take that benefit, skill and knowledge of Australia back to their home country. We're enormously proud of its contribution to not just regional growth but our growth. Every opportunity that Australians have to embrace their region they take. One of the enduring legacies of the ASEAN relationship is built on a sense of mutual trust and understanding about the potential of growing together. What we celebrate on this 50th anniversary is the opportunity not just to congratulate ASEAN on its contribution to the region and to peace and stability amongst the countries that are members but also to celebrate the contribution that ASEAN makes to Australia. As a federal parliament, we make a commitment to continuing to support and contribute to their contribution to the growth of the region as well as to that of our great nation.

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