Steven Ciobo (Moncrieff, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for her question, because she, like others on this side of the House, in the coalition, is passionate about trade policy. It stands, frankly, in stark contrast to the Labor Party. We are 295 days into this parliament, there have been 62 question times and I am yet to get a single question from the shadow minister for trade. I am yet to get a single question from the member for Blaxland. In fact, he is so out of practice that he tried to do one last week when I was not here, and he stuffed it up. You should at least give him a sporting chance to get up on his feet on trade policy every now and then.

But this side of the House is passionate about trade policy. The reason we are passionate about trade policy is that we understand the direct connection between export markets boosting Australia's economic growth and driving job opportunities. In fact, since the coalition came to power, since we concluded the three North Asian powerhouse free trade agreements, with China, Japan and Korea, we have been paving the way for Aussie wine producers like those from the member's electorate, from the famous Margaret River, to be able to boost their exports into those important export markets.

Ms Chesters interjecting—

See this speech in context