Jodie Belyea (Dunkley, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Last week I had the honour of being in this chamber to hear Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, speak about the importance of alliances in a world that is becoming more uncertain day by day. Her message was clear, and it is one Australians understand instinctively: strong nations are built on strong partnerships. At a time of growing global instability, deepening our ties with trusted allies isn't optional. It is essential to our prosperity, our security and our future. That is why the agreements signed just last week, after eight long years of negotiations, matter.

These agreements include a comprehensive free trade agreement, a new security and defence partnership, and Australia joining Horizon Europe, the world's largest research and innovation program. These agreements will help shape Australia's future, but they are not abstract ideas. They have real meaning for real communities, including Dunkley and the greater south-east region of Victoria.

So, what does the EU free trade deal mean for Dunkley? It means opportunity. It means backing 'made in Australia'. It means making sure what we produce here can be sold, can be scaled and can succeed globally. Dunkley is built on small businesses, skilled workers and growing industries. For my community, this deal is about jobs that last, investment that sticks and growth that benefits local families, not just balance sheets.

Earlier this month, I met with the Greater South East Melbourne manufacturing network. GSEM represents manufacturers across one of the fastest-growing regions, a region that contributes around $85 billion in gross regional product. The south-east of Victoria is Australia's manufacturing powerhouse. It employs more manufacturing workers than any other region in the country and supports thousands of local businesses, and, the truth is, we are only just scratching the surface of what is possible, particularly in advanced manufacturing and highly skilled, well-paid jobs.

That is why a strong trade deal with the European Union matters. It opens the door to one of the world's largest markets. It attracts new investment and it helps local businesses adopt the technologies they need to grow and compete. In my role as the MP for Dunkley, I also work closely with the Committee for Frankston and Mornington Peninsula. Through the committee, I see firsthand the opportunities across our region for everyone from food producers to winemakers to local agribusiness. This agreement helps unlock the investment our region deserves—investment that matches our ambition and our potential.

There is no doubt this deal will deliver growth and opportunity in Dunkley and across Australia, but this agreement is about more than growth. It's about resilience. The world is changing fast. Supply chains are shifting. Strategic competition is intensifying. Australia must be smart and deliberate about how we protect our economic strength and national sovereignty. One of the clearest lessons from the pandemic was the risk of relying on too few partners. When global systems failed, Australians paid the price. We learned a simple lesson: diversification is not ideology; it is insurance.

That is exactly what these agreements deliver. They reduce risk, they strengthen resilience, and they ensure Australia is not dependent on a single market but connected to a network of trusted partners. Importantly, these agreements are built on relationships this government has worked hard to rebuild. Turning inward does not make us safer. Cooperation does. Trust does. Partnerships do.

For the people of Dunkley, this is about being part of a future where local businesses grow, innovation thrives and workers have secure, well-paid jobs. It's a future where Australia stands strong—not alone but alongside partners who share our values and our ambitions.

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