Tim Wilson (Goldstein, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

It's a great privilege to be able to get up to speak directly about the importance of Australian food manufacturing and exports in the food, beverage and grocery industries, which provide a critical part of the Australian economy; they always have, they always will, and may they continue to do so—because these days there's a lot of disconnect between how nations create wealth and where jobs and economic opportunity come from. It's primary industries that provide the wealth and opportunity to grow manufacturing businesses, which also provide jobs and opportunity, which then go on to provide the service-based industries to support them.

As part of a supply chain for delivering food, goods and services to the world, agriculture in particular has always been critical to Australia's success, particularly as a nation that cannot consume everything it produces. In addition to that, it provides us with the export opportunities to make us a more prosperous nation, and it provides security and opportunity, particularly food security, for the world. It's an incredibly important industry, and one which is very dear to my heart as part of my general interest in Australia's trade opportunities. Exports sit at the heart of how Australia will continue to be engaged with the rest of the world and continue to grow the economic opportunities of the 21st century. The strength that Australia has is that it is a clean, green environment, enabling quality goods to be produced that are going to be consumed, increasingly, in parts of South-East Asia and North Asia to feed the growing middle class in those regions. It's something we should be enormously proud of. It touches on so many different job opportunities, particularly in a sector where we're incredibly innovative as a nation.

Just outside of my electorate, there's a business called RollsPack. RollsPack is a company that invests in packaging arrangements, particularly for processed foods that then go on to be exported throughout the world. In particular, they own the technology to create square, flat-bottomed packs so that products can stand up on supermarket shelves. They're the only ones that have that technology in Australia. But they can't use the advantages of that technology, the investment that it creates, or the jobs that it provides if they don't have the produce to go in it. And so having a vibrant and successful food, beverage and grocery industry is critical, not only to meet local domestic needs but also to meet the needs of a growing middle class in parts of South-East Asia and North Asia.

It goes across the board: it doesn't matter what product you're seeking to provide these days, there are export opportunities for Australians and Australian industry to shine. We're able to leverage the potential we have around quality, and around making sure that we provide goods that people want to buy at prices they're able to afford. We know full well that there are some sectors where it's very difficult for us to compete on scale. It's difficult because of not only higher energy costs, rising energy costs—something the Turnbull government is very committed to tackling—but also labour costs and skills. We have to take advantage of our natural assets to provide for the industries of the future that will always be in demand, that provide sustainable jobs. And that's where the agriculture sector, delivered through supply chains through to exportable products, is so critical.

We know full well the huge economic benefit that comes directly from the growth in these sectors. Exports alone are worth $32.6 billion—the food and beverage sector contributes $26.4 billion as part of that; grocery manufacturing contributes $4.6 billion; and fresh produce is $1.6 billion. At each stage, the sector provides opportunities for new investors and new incentives for people to invest, build jobs growth and provide products, goods and services in demand.

One of the great myths that permeates modern Australian economic discussion is about manufacturing being in decline. There are certainly some manufacturing industries which traditionally operated in Australia that no longer operate but, where we have our economic advantage and potential, manufacturing still remains very strong. And we have a lot of that in the Goldstein electorate, particularly around Moorabbin and Braeside as well as down the south-east corridor towards Frankston. Where there are businesses that provide and take advantage of Australia's natural wealth and potential, you find viable industry that can meet global need. In fact—and I only discovered this recently, I concede, and I can understand why they keep it secret—most of Victoria's wine is bottled in the Goldstein electorate, in a factory in Sandringham. It stunned and amazed me, and I think it stunned and amazed a lot of constituents when I told them—because some of them were thirsty! However, the potential that can be provided from this sector into the future is exceptional, and that is why we celebrate them.

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