Scott Buchholz (Wright, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Fremantle who spoke before for their contribution, because it was that delivery that crystallises for every Australian that those on the other side of the House are not in support of the free trade agreements. They suspect that the free trade agreement brings with it issues of national security—I think they alluded to that—and it brings about issues of conflict in the way of environment and a number of other issues. Once you understand that that is the position of the other side, espoused in this very place, you now know why Labor, when in government for six or seven years—with a foreign minister, who was previously the Prime Minister—had no intention whatsoever of dealing with the issues of free trade. I commend the excellent work that has been done in this place by our trade minister and the work that has been done by the office of Minister Robb, on delivering economic reform that will have an immediate benefit not only in Australia but in my electorate.

The Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement is the most liberalised bilateral trade agreement that Japan, our second-largest trading partner, has ever concluded, providing Australian exporters, importers, investors and producers a significant advantage over their international competitors. Japanese Prime Minister Abe was warmly and openly received by both sides of the House. It beggars belief that today you would have speakers from the other side of this House rise to not only contradict their own leader's position when in the company of a foreign dignitary but truly show their underbelly and how much those on the other side of this chamber detest the fact that the world is becoming a smaller place and that free trade agreements are a necessity.

More than 97 per cent of Australian exporters to Japan will receive preferential access to enter duty free when the free trade agreements are fully implemented. The agreement would also deliver major benefits to local consumers, with tariffs to be eliminated on Japanese cars and parts and a wide range of household items including whitegoods and electronics. What that potentially means is that, when tariffs are removed from the stuff we are currently buying from Japan that has tariffs on it, the benefit will flow directly to households. We came to this election saying that we wanted to reduce the cost of living. This is one of the mechanisms by which we will achieve these outcomes. Admittedly, one does not go out and buy a fridge, a washing machine, a Toyota or a Mitsubishi every week but, when those capital purchases are made in the fullness of time, these free trade agreements will provide a cheaper cost of living to the Australian public and that should be celebrated. Cheaper imported items from Japan, including cars, increases the choice buying power of local households, and ultimately leads to the improvement of living standards for Australians.

With reference to the Korean free trade agreement, it is a world-class comprehensive agreement that has sustainably liberalised Australia's free trade agreement with our fourth largest trading partner. The agreement helps to level the playing field for Australian exporters competing with those from the United States, the European Union, Chile and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, who benefit from the existing trade deals.

In the time that is allowed to me, I want to go to the union movement, who the Australian Labor Party rely so heavily on for funding. On the television at the moment, they are running a scare campaign advocating that the free trade agreement is not good for our country. The premise of that advertisement is fundamentally flawed given that they use the example of an electrician, saying that an electrician can come here and does not have to have the qualifications. To trade as an electrician in Australia, you need to meet the Australian minimum standards. I am interested to see whether the next speaker intends to rebut that point. It fundamentally underpins the falseness or the flaw in that television campaign, and I look forward to listening to the next speaker's contribution.

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