Russell Broadbent (McMillan, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Jobs, jobs, jobs and more jobs—that is what the China free-trade agreement means to the dairy farmers of McMillan. It provides unprecedented access to what is already the nation's top overseas agricultural market. Yannathan dairy farmer and Australian Dairy Council chairman, Noel Campbell, knows a good deal when he sees one. He has welcomed the agreement. Our dairy exports are worth $501 million across a $13-billion industry. This morning 6,700 farmers got up and milked the cows that gave us the milk we have in this Parliament House.

It is a level playing field for Australia for the first time. For the people down in McMillan, there is a positive outlook for producers such as Fonterra in Darnum, Burra Foods in Korumburra, Devondale Murray Goulburn in Leongatha, Viplus Dairy at Toora and Gippy Milk at Longwarry, which the Prime Minister has written his bike through. These areas are renowned for the quality and the purity of their milk, and Noel Campbell and the Dairy Farmers community will benefit greatly from this agreement. Gippsland feeds China's babies.

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

It being two o'clock, the member's statement is interrupted. In accordance with standing order 43, the time for members' statements has concluded.