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

We are able to deliver these trade agreements thanks to continued effort, negotiation and outcomes by our government and, I note, bipartisan support for the passage of these agreements through the chamber. It is critically important that we maintain that and recognise the growth and the dividend it is delivering to Australia.

More Australian businesses are exporting today as a result of the trade agreements we have negotiated. More than 53,000 small and medium-sized enterprises are exporting today, a number which in terms of businesses exporting has grown some 18½ per cent in our time in government. More Australians are employed in trade related businesses. Trade and exports are generating more jobs for Australians. Some 240,000 trade related jobs, it has been estimated, have been created over the last five years. Australian household incomes are estimated to be higher—an average of $8½ thousand higher—as a result of trade access around the world. There are more jobs, more businesses and higher incomes thanks to our export markets.