Andrew Robb (Goldstein, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade and Investment) Share this | Hansard source

The China free trade agreement, about creating tens of thousands of new jobs for Australians, is one that is under threat from those opposite. Let me provide another example of the opportunities being put in jeopardy—this time, Blackmores, a well-known company, our largest natural health company, who have been around for 83 years. They operate in 14 countries and they employ 1,000 people. They are a huge supporter of the China free trade agreement. CEO Christine Holgate said that in China her company faced an average tariff of 20 per cent and, for some important products such as fish oils, over 35 per cent. These tariffs will be eliminated. They will go to zero under the free trade agreement, enabling Blackmores to be super-competitive against lower cost, lower quality products. In the last year, Blackmores' sales have grown 30 per cent and they are expecting profits to grow 75 per cent, in large part because of the free trade agreements with Japan and Korea. Furthermore, Blackmores are expanding their business in anticipation of further growth with these massive reductions in tariffs in China. In the last six months alone, Blackmores have created over 100 new jobs on Sydney's northern beaches. They also pay a lot of tax.

I say to those opposite: get out of the way and start backing Australian jobs and growth.

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