Luke Hartsuyker (Cowper, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise in this place to speak on the Australia-Japan Foundation (Repeal and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2006. It is a bill of fairly modest breadth, but I think the relationship between Australia and Japan is a vital one which has been a very strong relationship for many decades now. As a country of only 20 million people we vitally need to export. We must export if we are to prosper. Japan is one of our vital trading partners. Exports provide one in five jobs in Australia and one in four jobs in regional and rural Australia. It is trade that very much underpins our strong economic growth, and trade with Japan is absolutely huge.

Our two-way trade topped $50 billion recently and our resources exports to Japan are in the order of $15½ billion. It is clear that Japan is vital to our economic prosperity. That is why our Prime Minister and his Japanese counterpart, Mr Koizumi, agreed in April 2005 to undertake a feasibility study into the establishment of a free trade agreement between the two countries. This feasibility study is in its final stages and, if a free trade agreement is finally enacted, it could unlock huge economic potential for both countries—not only in the export of goods but also in the export of services.

I know that agricultural producers around the country would welcome the possibility or the prospect of a free trade agreement with Japan. It would take what is already a very strong relationship to a new level. As I said, two-way trade between the countries is at over $50 billion. To further enhance that would be of great benefit indeed. But, when you look at our relationship with Japan, it is not just done on a nation-to-nation basis. There have been great strides made in achieving a strong relationship at all levels within this country. With regard to my home city of Coffs Harbour, we have a strong sister city relationship with Sasebo, which is near Nagasaki. We signed an agreement in our bicentennial year which created closer links between our countries.

In 1990 the Australia-Japan Society of Coffs Harbour was formed, with the aim of making Coffs Harbour the most welcoming city in Australia for Japanese tourists. I would like to compliment Pat Degens and her dedicated group on their work. They have been fostering that strong relationship at a local level, with many visits both from Japan and to Japan. Last year Toormina High School hosted three students and a teacher from Sasebo. In April this year two students and two teachers made a return visit. At the start of last month, John Paul College hosted three students and one teacher from the Atago middle school. So throughout our community there is a strong association with Japan. We receive and welcome tourists, and we focus on that sister city relationship. That city-to-city relationship is providing a strong bond at more than a national level, at a local level, and that is all too vital.

The Australia-Japan Foundation bill, as I said, has a fairly modest intent. The Australia-Japan Foundation is in a unique position, however, to cement relationships between the two countries. This is the 30th year of the Australia-Japan Foundation, and it continues to promote better understanding and communications between the two countries. It has a range of functions which require a certain amount of cultural sensitivity, and it has a track record of fostering a closer relationship between Australia and Japan as it carries out those functions.

What does the Australia-Japan Foundation do? It does a range of things. It disseminates information for Japanese schools, it operates the Australian Resource Centre at the Australian Embassy in Tokyo, it manages the Australia-Japan Foundation website, it manages scholarships and assists with visits to both countries, it manages tertiary education exchange students through the Sir Neil Currie awards and it develops the Australia-Japan debaters exchange and the Australia-Japan Foundation awards. It has a list of achievements. It has developed the Experience Australia and Discovering Eco Australia education resource kits and the Australian government website in Japanese, and it has established an extensive network of grassroots contacts. I just mentioned the importance of the relationship that has been established at a grassroots level between Coffs Harbour and Sasebo. The wider we can get that strong grassroots contact, the better. Also, it has developed Australia’s interest and expertise in Japanese language and other studies.

Why is the bill necessary? It is the belief of the government that the Australia-Japan Foundation would function better if it were a non-statutory body within the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. This requires the repeal of the enabling legislation, the Australia-Japan Foundation Act 1976. There are many bodies within the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade which function along bilateral lines, and we believe the Australia-Japan Foundation should join them. We do not believe the day-to-day work or objectives of the foundation will be altered by this legislation, but the foundation will operate by orders and counsel. The foundation will continue to strengthen the links between Australia and the Japanese people at a range of levels, and this can only work to enhance the very strong relationship we have.

When we look at exports—and Japan brings into very clear focus the importance of exports in our economy—we cannot underestimate the role that exports have played in generating prosperity with regard to unemployment. We are seeing now unemployment at 30-year lows, and this is due in no small part to the contribution of exporters. Companies which export tend to be more dynamic and to enjoy greater export growth. We have seen substantial reductions in long-term unemployment and general unemployment as a result of the policies of this government and as a result of the hard work that has been conducted by our exporters. It is essential, if we are going to continue to have economic growth in this country, that we continue to strive to export. A strong and continuing relationship with Japan is important to that, and the Australia-Japan Foundation has a role to play in continuing those links.

Like any relationship, we need to work together to continue to ensure that that relationship remains vital. The signing of a free trade agreement with Japan, if that were to occur, would be a major step in further enhancing what is already a very strong relationship. Such a document would substantially improve wealth for Australians and the Japanese people, particularly those in regional and rural areas. I have a range of companies in my electorate which export to Japan, such as Blueberry Farms on the larger scale and at the smaller level Dahlberg Surfboards, which sells a large proportion of its production into the Japanese market. It is a small, local company operating out of Yamba that is able, with the help of Austrade, to get its product into the Japanese market.

It is important that we impress upon many of our small firms the wide horizons that are available in the export markets. Austrade does a great job in encouraging firms to be export ready and to facilitate what is an important source of growth for Australia, the export market. I commend the bill to the House. It will assist us in developing a stronger relationship with Japan. I look forward to the prospect of a free trade agreement with Japan and to continuing growth in exports of both physical goods and services in the years to come.

See this speech in context