George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

I merely indicate on behalf of the opposition that the Customs Amendment (Australia-Chile Free Trade Agreement Implementation) Bill 2008 and the Customs Tariff Amendment (Australia-Chile Free Trade Agreement Implementation) Bill 2008 have our support. This is part of a suite of free trade agreements which were initially developed under the previous government. I am pleased to say that the present government, or at least a majority of its members, have at long last accepted the wisdom of free trade agreements. The volume of trade between Australia and Chile is not inconsiderable, particularly in relation to commodities. Chile, as honourable senators will be aware, is the site of one of the world’s largest copper mines, for example, operated by an Australian company, and we look forward to the enhancement of that relationship as a result of these measures.