Steven Ciobo (Moncrieff, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment) Share this | Hansard source

Before I get to the questions from the member for Blaxland I will speak to the questions asked by the member for Fairfax and the member for Forrest. Both of them are outstanding local members, outstanding for their consistent advocacy on behalf of their constituents—in particular their small to medium sized enterprises. I had the privilege of being with the member for Fairfax and going to Yandina, where I had the chance to meet with a macadamia nut processor and farmer. I note that one of Australia's premier macadamia nut processing plants, Nutworks, is in the electorate of the member for Fairfax. It employs more than 60 people and is now exporting its products worldwide. In fact, Kylie Watson, the CEO of Nutworks, at an FTA seminar recently explained how an increase in inquiries from China, spurred as a consequence of the introduction of the FTA, prompted Nutworks to start exporting its macadamias. She said:

It was the timing of the reduction in tariffs. We really started to see an increase in enquiries, particularly coming out of China.

That's a consequence of the member for Fairfax's strong work and understanding of his local community and his being a strong advocate for them in the government's party room.

Likewise, I've had the privilege of being with the member for Forrest and speaking to not only local tourism exports but small and medium sized exporters. They are the people who are creating employment in Australia and giving opportunities for new young Aussies to be able to participate in the labour force by getting jobs in the small to medium sized enterprises that are now exporting their products and services to the world. That's a direct consequence of this, the most ambitious trade agenda that Australia ever had and—as we have seen in relation to the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement—their advocacy and their level headedness with the Australian public about the opportunities.

I know there is good spirit shown by the shadow minister opposite, but we should never forget it was the Australian Labor Party who described the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement—they came in here asking in an anguished tone what was happening bilaterally and why wasn't the Australian government doing more—as a dud deal. This deal, which has underwritten a third of Australia's economic growth, was described by Labor as a dud deal. In fact, they turned the other way when the Australian trade union movement ran the most disgraceful, dishonest, multimillion-dollar campaign against China and Chinese workers and said the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement was going to wreak devastation across the Australian economy. So you can understand why I might take a minute to reflect on Labor's track record. Again, you don't look at what Labor say; you have to look at what Labor do. And their track record on the bilateral relationship with China on trade and on investment is absolutely disgraceful!

In the short time that I have remaining, I'll speak more directly on non-tariff measures; the government have put money on the table. We've put money on the table to deal with non-tariff measures in a comprehensive way, because when I talk to industry I hear concerns about non-tariff measures, in the same way as I get strong advocacy from the member for Forrest and the member for Fairfax as well as so many coalition members, who raise with me the concerns of their constituents on NTMs, or non-tariff measures. We're working to break down those barriers. Under the coalition, we've seen some of the most expeditious outcomes around protocols to get Australian goods into markets like China than by any government in Australia's history. We're also putting more money down. I'm sure the shadow minister would like to know that I'm looking very closely at what New Zealand has done in relation to opportunities for an interdepartmental committee. I don't want to use IDC loosely, but I'm looking for opportunities for coordination between the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources and the Department of Trade and Investment, and I'm happy to speak to him directly about other concerns that he has.

Proposed expenditure agreed to.

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