Lisa Chesters (Bendigo, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. How is the Albanese Labor government ensuring our farmers and producers benefit from more trade and from rebuilding Australia's standing in the world? Are there any threats to this trade?

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Member for Barker, I could not hear that question because you were interjecting, so you'll leave the chamber under 94(a).

The member for Barker then left the chamber.

We just want everyone to be able to hear the question in silence, and that goes for both sides. It's a consistency that I'm trying to improve standards in the House. It may not work during answers, but at least during the questions everyone's got to be heard in silence. The member for Bendigo will begin her question again.

Lisa Chesters (Bendigo, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. How is the Albanese Labor government ensuring our farmers and producers benefit from more trade and from rebuilding Australia's standing in the world? Are there any threats to this trade?

Julie Collins (Franklin, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I want to thank the terrific member for Bendigo. I really appreciate her taking me around her electorate, where we met with some farmers who'd been devastated by the bushfires earlier this year and who had actually lost everything. I know she's been a real champion for our farmers and primary producers.

It was terrific to stand alongside our assistant minister and, indeed, the National Farmers' Federation this morning, when we celebrated Australia's farm-gate production value being on track to exceed $100 billion this financial year. This forecast, released today by ABARES, shows our agriculture industry will reach this extraordinary result four years ahead of the National Farmers' Federation's ambitious target of 2030—four years ahead and $100 billion of this industry target. This is a testament to the hard work, resilience and skill of Australian farmers and the work done hand in hand with our government.

As the president of the National Farmers' Federation, Hamish McIntyre, said today, this is a landmark moment that belongs to farmers but could not have been achieved without strong collaboration. It shows that agriculture is an industry worth backing. We agree with the National Farmers' Federation there. That's exactly what our government has been doing from day one: we are backing our farmers and our primary producers. We are backing them to succeed, despite the challenging weather conditions that I spoke about earlier and, of course, the floods and the drought that some farmers are experiencing in parts of the country—and, of course, the ongoing global uncertainty.

When we came to government, the agriculture sector was worth $88 billion, but, under our government, its value has jumped 15 per cent. There's more demand than ever for our world-class fibre and our world-class food, with our ag, fisheries and forestry exports forecast to reach a record high of $85 billion this financial year. We recognise the significant benefits of free and fair trade for our farmers and our producers. Indeed, one in four jobs in Australia relies on this trade. That's why we've got on with the job. We're delivering more opportunities for our farmers, and our agriculture trade is now the most diversified it has ever been, with over 250 market improvements that we have made as a government. Of course, that wasn't what we inherited from those opposite. We had underfunded biosecurity. They mismanaged our international relations. We all remember what they did with our largest international relations in terms of $20 billion of trade. Instead of saying, 'Well done,' to our farmers, the coalition are jeopardising the success of our $100 billion agriculture industry.

Andrew Hastie (Canning, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Home Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A point of order.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thought you were jumping up for the next question. What's your point of order?

Andrew Hastie (Canning, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Home Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The point of order is on direct relevance, Mr Speaker.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister has concluded her answer.

Andrew Hastie (Canning, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Home Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question was about farming and threats. There was no mention of other approaches. Can I clarify that?

Honourable members interjecting—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My apologies to the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the House of Representatives. I thought you were seeking the call for a question. There were only 10 seconds left to go.

Honourable members interjecting—

Order! We'll follow the standing orders. The member for Fowler is now entitled to her question.