Andrew Nikolic (Bass, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Trade and Investment.

Honourable Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Just wait. I have been very patient, and I have warned a number. We will have silence for the rest of question time so we can hear both the answers and the questions; otherwise, people will leave.

Andrew Nikolic (Bass, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Trade and Investment. I remind the minister that two of the three landmark free trade agreements concluded with our North Asian neighbours are now in force. Will the minister inform the House of any immediate benefits that have resulted from their introduction, particularly in my home state of Tasmania?

Andrew Robb (Goldstein, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade and Investment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Bass. He is proving to be an extremely strong and effective member for that seat. He is out and about already promoting the benefits of the free trade agreements. Of course, the Korean one took effect in the middle of December, and the Japanese one took effect in the middle of January. The member for Bass has already received some great feedback recently from a Launceston cray fisherman, Karl Krause.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Lalor is not in her seat.

Andrew Robb (Goldstein, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade and Investment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

He fishes the waters off Flinders Island. Karl said: 'Our crays are now in hot demand in both countries, with tariffs at 20 per cent going to zero, ensuring enduring price gains for years and years.'

Of course, the member for Bass has also been one of the great advocates for the irrigation projects in Tasmania, including of a shovel-ready project in Scottsdale, which I happened to visit a couple of years ago with the now member for Bass. Scottsdale is a former great town in the north-east. A few years ago, an earlier Labor government closed three timber mills by closing down forestry in Scottsdale. They killed jobs and they killed growth in that area. We are breathing life back into those jobs and that place. We are supporting irrigation projects—

Ms Chesters interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I said there will be silence. The member for Bendigo can leave under 94(a).

The member for Bendigo then left the chamber.

Andrew Robb (Goldstein, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade and Investment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

which will allow advantage to be taken of these free trade agreements. We will see tariffs on potatoes down from 304 per cent to zero; tariffs on carrots from 30 per cent to zero; turnips, 30 per cent to zero; wine, 15 per cent to zero; and so many more. All of these things will be advantaged by these developments that we have with the free trade agreements.

Ms Collins interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Franklin will desist!

Andrew Robb (Goldstein, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade and Investment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We are seeing evidence of this from Reid Fruits. They are one of the biggest cherry-exporting companies in Australia. They are in Tasmania. They have already signed contracts and shipped 183 tonnes of cherries to Korea. Last year they shipped five tonnes. Because of the tariff reduction, they are now shipping 183 tonnes, worth nearly $3 million. That is 600 people, 600 jobs, at the peak of the season. With a 24 per cent tariff reduction, they are now making millions of dollars.

From day one, we have been on about growth and jobs. In this regard, the free trade agreements are having an immediate impact in Tasmania and the rest of the country.