Happy Thursday, everyone. It's good to be here. My question is to the acting leader of the government, my good friend and Minister for Trade and Tourism, Senator Farrell. In March, the Prime Minister announced a landmark free-trade agreement with the European Union. That agreement creates huge opportunities for Australian businesses, our exporters and consumers. It will mean more jobs, lower costs and stronger margins for Australian exporters, and I hope the National Party is listening very carefully. How does this deal, secured by the Albanese Labor government and yourself, deliver for Australian farmers, producers, miners and exporters?

I thank Senator Ciccone for his question and the great work that he does for the people of Victoria. As he says, the EU-Australia free-trade agreement is a once-in-a-generation deal with the world's second largest economy. The EU market is valued at more than $30 trillion, with 27 member countries and around 450 million consumers. This is a huge opportunity for Australian farmers, producers, miners, exporters, businesses and workers. For decades, Australian exporters have faced barriers into Europe that their competitors did not. This agreement helps level that playing field. It will remove EU tariffs on a wide range of Australian agricultural products, and, for products such as beef and sheep meat, it creates commercially meaningful new access through tariff-rate quotas. That means more choice, more customers and stronger returns for Australian producers. It means more secure, well-paid jobs in regional communities and right across the supply chains that support them in transport, in processing, in logistics and in professional services. This agreement is about backing Australian capability, opening doors for our exporters and bringing more investment into the Australian economy.

Senator Ciccone, first supplementary.

Thank you, Minister, for that comprehensive answer, and I hope some of my colleagues on the other side are listening carefully. Amidst the rise in global tensions, free trade with diversified trading partners has never been more important. Once the agreement is implemented, Australia's network of trade agreements will span almost 90 per cent of the globe. Are there any risks facing this critical agreement, Minister? I'm going to listen very attentively, as I hope those opposite will!

I thank Senator Ciccone for his first supplementary question. The governments of both persuasions have built Australia's trade network, because it is firmly in our national interests. The value of our trade network is immense. Last year we did a record $1.3 trillion worth of trade with the world. But now some in this parliament are threatening to put all that at risk by threatening to block the EU free-trade agreement, denying our producers access to a $30 trillion market, denying them access to stronger returns and putting Australian jobs and businesses at risk, ignoring the interests of the people they claim to represent in our regions just to chase votes that they are losing. This is not leadership; that's putting populism over policy. (Time expired)

Senator Ciccone, second supplementary.

Minister, that's why we call you the best trade minister we've ever had. With one in four Australian jobs relating to trade, more than 300,000 Australian jobs are in the ag sector—80 per cent of our ag output by value is exported. Our exports are much more competitive when tariffs are gone. Our farmers make more money. Minister, how would opposing this deal put the ag sector at risk? Who could possibly oppose this deal?

Order across the chamber!

Order! Senator McKenzie, which bit of 'order' doesn't apply to you?

And you, Senator Bragg.

I thank Senator Ciccone for his second supplementary question. If anyone is serious about blocking the EU deal, they're telling thousands of Australian farmers their livelihoods do not matter—wine growers in South Australia; sheep and cattle producers in Western Australia, the NT and Queensland; dairy farmers in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. And it's not just jobs on the farm. These industries support long-valued chains and thousands of Australian jobs. Everyone in this place should support our EU free trade agreement because Australia prospers when we sell to the world not when politicians slam the gate shut.

Sellout.

Senator Mckenzie, I'm not quite sure who that remark was directed towards, but, if it was to the minister, I'm going to ask you to withdraw it.

I withdraw.