Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Hansard source

Firstly, I reject the premise of the tail end of Senator Wong's question. Secondly, I would point Senator Wong to my answers to the preceding two questions, where I highlighted the fact that the Prime Minister and Minister Payne had addressed these matters in their answers to questioning earlier today and that I had highlighted before that the only threat to the ratification of CEPA that I'm aware of is the opposition by those opposite to the key components negotiated within CEPA. Indeed, in terms of taking lectures and advice about relations with Indonesia, we will not be taking lectures from those opposite, who of course brought the relationship with Indonesia to its knees with their ban of the live cattle trade. Those opposite—with no warning, no discussion, none of the type of proper consultation that you would expect—took a decision that directly impacted upon Indonesia, upon their food security, and that was a disaster at the time. It was a disaster that continues to hang over your head in terms of your capabilities on foreign and trade relations. (Time expired)