Simon Crean (Hotham, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the House and appreciate the opportunity to debate this subject. I congratulate the shadow trade minister for finally initiating something on trade in this House. He has not asked me one question. He has not put one question on notice on trade. Here we are, the day that the leadership of the Liberal Party has changed, and he brings forward an MPI on trade. This is not an issue of trade; this is a job resume from the shadow minister opposite saying: ‘Please. I’ve been around for the last nine months. I’ve not done anything. Don’t take me off the front bench. I’m worthwhile. I want to stay.’ But I do welcome the opportunity for this debate.

I remind the House what we are debating here:

The failure of the government to develop a comprehensive trade policy agenda …

I will tell the House what the failure was. The failure was the former government’s ineptitude over the previous 12 years.

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