Matt O'Sullivan (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister presenting the Prime Minister, Senator Farrell. Should the Chinese government's attempted coercive trade sanctions against Australia be considered a reason not to support their membership of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership at this time?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the senator for his question. The CPTPP, as it's known, has recently acceded to the request of the United Kingdom to join that group. Only a few weeks ago, that request was acceded to.

Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question was about China.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Scarr, it's important that you put these questions into perspective. Having dealt with the issue of the United Kingdom, of course, the next question is: which country might next join the group? As you say, China has put in a request to join that group but so have five other countries, including Taiwan, Ukraine and a number of other countries. Those issues now have to be dealt with. At the next meeting of that group, which will occur next week in San Francisco, I expect that the group will deal with the issue of how to progress future requests for accession to that group. The reality of the situation is that it does require— (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator O'Sullivan, first supplementary?

Matt O'Sullivan (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Have any other partners raised concerns with the Albanese government's more positive tone about China joining the CPTPP?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I don't think it's appropriate to conduct in-public discussions about what other countries may or may not have said to us. As I indicated to you, next week this group is meeting on the sidelines of the APEC meeting in San Francisco, and I'm sure all of the countries will at that meeting have an opportunity to express their point of view on where we head next with the CPTPP.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator O'Sullivan, second supplementary?

Matt O'Sullivan (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

During his discussions with the Chinese government, has the minister given any undertakings in relation to Australia's consideration of foreign investment applications or raised the review into the port of Darwin? If so, in what context did the minister discuss foreign investment in the port of Darwin?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you for that second supplementary question. No, and on that note I would request that further questions be put on the Notice Paper.