Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) acknowledges:

(i) the importance of agricultural exports to Australia's overall balance of payments position as well as the viability and economic health of individual farmers, agricultural communities and regional Australia,

(ii) that Australian agricultural producers are internationally competitive and currently receive low levels of Government support in absolute terms, and also relative to agricultural producers in other countries, and

(iii) That the current high barriers to international agricultural trade and the high levels of protection to their domestic agricultural sectors imposed by many countries are distorting international trade and adversely impacting on Australia's agricultural exporters; and

(b) noting the substantial benefits to Australian agricultural producers arising as a result of the Government's successful conclusion of free trade agreements with Japan, Korea and China, calls on the Government to continue to seek greater openness and access for Australian agricultural producers in overseas markets through bilateral and multilateral fora.

Question agreed to.