Eric Hutchinson (Lyons, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I appreciate the opportunity. Like the member for Hindmarsh, I also have pleasure in rising to speak on this bill, which relates to something that is important to pretty well all of us in this place, and that is trade and access to markets. This legislation, the Aviation Transport Security Amendment (Cargo) Bill 2015, specifically relates to air freight. Specifically, it is a measure that the Australian government has had no choice but to implement, given the requirements that have been put in place by the United States government in terms of an obligation that we now have; if we want to trade with that very important market, we must have the capacity to scan every container—every box—that leaves Australia that is destined for the United States. One hundred per cent of all the parcels will need to be X-rayed before they leave Australia.

There are two mechanisms by which this can occur. One is off-airport examination of cargo by approved freight forwarding businesses. That is one option for exporters. The second option is the establishment of a known consigner scheme that export businesses can join. Both of those mechanisms will provide the opportunity for businesses that are currently trading. Indeed, we would hope that, as the quality of Australian produce all around the world is increasingly understood, there would be more opportunities for more goods from this country to enter the US market.

You will be interested to note that it does have no impact on the US free trade agreement and the criteria under which that was signed. You may also be interested to note that there was $4.8 billion worth of Australian produce and goods exported by air to the United States last year. Whilst they are an obligation now, as a requirement set by the United States, it is logical that we undertake these changes locally—in effect, pre-planning for other countries that may well, in due course, require similar requirements. I think particularly of the possibilities that may occur under the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement that has been concluded as the fourth leg of the quadrella by the Minister for Trade and Investment. With the 12 countries involved in that, and given the initiative that the United States has taken in this space, it is likely that there will be others in due course. It applies not just to Australia, of course, but to all countries that wish to export goods into the USA. So it is not, in any way, discriminatory. Their reasons are, of course, based around the legitimate concerns that, as citizens of the world, we all have with respect to security.

This gives me a chance to ponder the events that occurred in Paris, 'The City of Light', in the past week and how—although one would hope that it would not do—it has really changed the world in such a profound way. It was a senseless attack not just on those who were tragically killed and or tragically injured but on humanity. From whatever quarter you come from around the globe, whatever your faith, whatever your colour, there is a fundamental thing that makes us all human beings. I think that was challenged by these evil people who seek to divide. It has been reassuring to see right across this country and the world an absolute condemnation of what was an attack, ultimately, on humanity. We cannot stand for that.

The capacity to respond in a timely manner also provides a competitive advantage for our country at this juncture. We will certainly be looking to take advantage of that. I think specifically of my home state of Tasmania. I think particularly of the expansions occurring in our two major airports. There are, of course, other airport facilities up on the north-west coast of Tasmania, at Devonport and Wynyard in the electorate of my colleague the member for Braddon. Launceston Airport, it may surprise you to know, is actually in the Northern Midlands in the electorate of Lyons. It was very encouraging in recent weeks to hear an announcement that Launceston Airport was now part of a code-sharing arrangement. That arrangement will allow passengers travelling from China with China Eastern Airlines to have electronic tickets right through to Launceston. This is going to present an enormous advantage for passengers who may want to visit the place where their President and his wife, Madam Peng Liyuan, took time to visit in our state last year. So it will make it easier for those people looking to follow in the footsteps of President Xi Jinping and his wife. Also, it provides an opportunity that has been apparent in other parts of the world, particularly the Middle East, concerning the bellies of these aircraft as they head back to their point of origin. In this case, with China, opportunities will open up for trade and for food and other products to be taken back to those markets. Most evident to me recently was the experience of Tasmanian Quality Meats, a business in the Northern Midlands. It is a business that has grown. It was the Australian Regional Exporter of the Year in 2013. It has built a business in more recent years very much on the changing path of aircraft travelling via the Middle East into European destinations. The business has grown enormously in terms of being able to supply chilled meat and other similar products into that important Middle East market. Of course, these are opportunities that also lay in North America.

The undertaking by the government to put in place the necessary facilities for off-airport examination of cargo by approved freight-forwarding businesses and the establishment of known consignors—a recognised scheme internationally—will come as no surprise to those companies involved in freight-forwarding and other things. For Australian exporters—and I think particularly of my home state and producers of berries, horticultural products more broadly and seafood—I am sure there are willing customers. They may not yet know it, but in due course they will be very excited customers when they realise that they can source such high-quality and excellent produce from the island state—the south island, as we sometimes refer to it.

On that note, this is a necessary but important piece of legislation to put in place those things that are required by that important market in the United States to make sure that our exporters have the opportunity to supply high-quality goods to that market on an ongoing basis. Thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the debate.

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