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

I thank Senator Stoker for her question and for her advocacy for Australian exporters and businesses, particularly those from Queensland. Without ever compromising on Australia's values or interests, our government works continuously to expand opportunities for our exporters right around our region and the world. Most notably, during the recent parliamentary recess we welcomed entry into force of the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, on 5 July, which will allow over 99 per cent of Australian goods exports to Indonesia by value to enter duty free or under significantly improved preferential arrangements compared with their counterparts.

I am very pleased to advise the Senate that many Australian businesses and exporters are already taking advantage of the opportunities provided by our trade deal with Indonesia. Some 37 semitrailer loads of duty-free oranges have already been shipped to Indonesia this year. Some 510 tonnes of duty-free lemon and lime exports have already been shipped. Some 963 tonnes of mandarins have already been shipped. Close to 46,000 head of cattle have already been shipped duty free to Indonesia. We equally see huge opportunities for our grain growers. Ultimately, we will see next year more than 500,000 tonnes of grain able to enter Indonesia duty free, growing year on year thereafter. Frozen beef and sheep meat tariffs have halved already, and we see duty-free steel making its way to Indonesia as well—close to 5,000 tonnes already from Australian business.

This, in addition to the services opportunities created and the enhancement of regional opportunities that will be put in place through the regional comprehensive economic partnership agreement, shows just how strongly we are working to help Australian business diversify their trade across our region.