Bruce Baird (Cook, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade I present the committee’s report entitled Review of Australia-New Zealand trade and investment relations, together with evidence received by the committee.

Ordered that the report be made a parliamentary paper.

by leave—On behalf of the Trade Subcommittee of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade I wish to make some brief comments on the committee’s report, Australia’s trade and investment relations with New Zealand. However, given the shortness of time allocated for the rest of the session I would also refer members to be printed report, which is being released today.

Australia has historically enjoyed an important and productive economic relationship with New Zealand. New Zealand is Australia’s fifth largest export market and eighth largest source of imports, and the 1983 Australia-New Zealand Closer Economic Relations Trade Agreement, the CER, is Australia’s oldest free trade agreement. The committee’s report looks at the relationship and its strength. There are far more achievements than problems still to confront. That shows the strength of our relationship, which has endured through two world wars. The very strong investment record, trade and tourism between the two countries highlight the significance of the CER. This report examines that.

I commend Robert Little, the secretary of the committee, who did an excellent job in preparing the brief, and my deputy, Mr Warren Snowdon, the member for Lingiari, and the other members of the committee. This committee is noted for the conviviality with which proceedings are conducted and for the bipartisan way in which its members look for opportunities for Australia’s international trade. I commend the report to the House.

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