Nita Green (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Tourism) Share this | Hansard source

I also rise to speak on the Customs Amendment (Australia-United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement Implementation) Bill 2025 and the Customs Tariff Amendment (Australia-United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement Implementation) Bill 2025. The government is committed to seeking the entry into force of the Australia-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement as soon as possible to enable the realisation of its many benefits.

The Joint Standing Committee on Treaties of the previous parliament scrutinised this trade agreement and recommended that binding treaty action be taken to implement the agreement. I wish to express my sincere thanks to all members of the committee, of which I was one, but, most importantly, special thanks go to the former and current chair, Ms Lisa Chesters MP. There was an enormous amount of work involved in progressing that report as quickly as possible so that we could be in the position to consider that bill today.

This trade agreement includes ambitious outcomes to benefit both Australia and the UAE. These include eliminating tariffs on over 99 per cent of Australian goods exported to the UAE, valued at $160 million when fully implemented; valuable First Nations outcomes covering trade and investment; and acknowledging the importance of women's economic empowerment, as well as the importance of the environment and the transition to net zero. The UAE is Australia's largest trade and investment partner in the Middle East, with total trade between the UAE and Australia worth $12.3 billion in 2024. This trade agreement will give Australian exporters to the UAE a significant commercial edge over other international competitors.

Finally, the government's approach to trade recognises that Australia's economic resilience depends on open global trade relations underpinned by robust rules. 'More trade, not less' is a key part of how we will build the economic future we want in Australia, with secure, high-paying jobs and an open, internationally competitive economy powered by clean energy. This trade agreement with the UAE will assist Australia to reach its full economic potential. I'd like to thank my fellow members for supporting the legislation that will ratify this important trade agreement, and I'd like to put on record my thanks to the minister and his team for their very hard work in negotiating, achieving and, hopefully today, ratifying this important trade agreement.

Question agreed to.

Bills read a second time.