Angus Taylor (Hume, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There are some very busy people in this place, and the small business minister is one of them. We certainly hope those opposite will keep him busy with many more questions in the parliament. Together, the minister and I were at a seminar in Yass a few weeks ago, outlining the opportunities in my electorate from free trade agreements. There were more than 80 exporters and potential exporters in the room. The clear messages for everyone were: aim for the top, aim for niche markets and know your markets well. It sounds simple, but it is crucial advice. We should never forget that our biggest agricultural industries have always been built on free trade agreements. Exporters know that, as well as an open door, they need minimum bureaucracy and maximum impact for their products.

Clonakilla wines from Murrumbateman are a product many of us in this place know and enjoy. Chief winemaker Tim Kirk exports into the US, Canada, Asia and parts of Europe. His advice at Yass to exporters was to think beyond just marketing generic products. We need to penetrate markets at the pointy end of the pyramid, not the base. In his words—and I agree strongly—'Australia is home to produce that is the equal of anything in the world. It is our job to communicate that exciting news effectively.' He says opportunities in China are exploding and that China would swallow the entire Clonakilla production if he let it.

Ted and Lynne Philpott from York Foods at Goulburn were also in the room. They export wagyu oil into Germany and Singapore and have produced a range of other niche domestic products. Their message to exporters, particularly in light of the recent FTAs, is: 'Stick with it. While it will cost you more time and effort than you plan, the opportunities are everywhere.'

I was absolutely delighted with the strong turnout to the forum, and I remain committed to offering ongoing assistance to businesses looking to break into export markets. I am also working to solve market access issues for the cherry industry. It was great to see a big contingent of cherry growers from Young, Wombat and Wallendbeen at the FTA seminar. Cherries are highly sought after in the Asian market, particularly in Korea, China, Thailand and elsewhere, with streams of tourists and students from Asia travelling to the Hill Top region of Hume at cherry season.

Small businesses such as the cherry growers from Young, Clonakilla Wines from Murrumbateman and York Foods from Goulburn are front and centre in this government's efforts to stimulate the economy. Bruce Billson will be in my electorate again this week, addressing a community forum in Picton on the support for small business in the federal budget. I warmly invite all local businesses along, and I thank the minister for making himself so available to the growing small businesses of Hume.