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

The Prime Minister secured the Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement—of huge importance to Australian farmers, of huge importance to Australian businesses, of huge importance to ensuring that Australians continue to enjoy the opportunity of more jobs, of more economic growth, the sorts of things that our side of politics has delivered for them. Those opposite want to demean the opportunities created by such trade agreements. They want to demean the opportunities created by the discussions the Prime Minister had with, for example, President Biden and Prime Minister Johnson, about the opportunities to talk about the strategic challenges faced in our region and around the world. They are very serious challenges and they were very important discussions that of course saw, during that time, the NATO countries meet and issue statements in relation to China and the challenges we face.

The Prime Minister also took the opportunity to engage in bilateral discussions with a number of his counterparts. Already during this question time—as Senator Watt would know if he had been paying any attention—I referenced the fact that hydrogen agreements were signed during the recent trip—with Germany, with Singapore—the decarbonisation agreements signed. This is why Senator Watt doesn't actually remember any of these things: because he doesn't shut up during the debate; he doesn't ever listen to any of it. Motormouth Murray over there just doesn't know when to be quiet. He won't pay any attention to the achievements. He won't pay any attention to what's accomplished. (Time expired)

Honourable senators interjecting—