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

I appreciate the member for Gilmore asking me the question about the TPP in particular, because she, like other members of this House, is deeply committed to this government's agenda with respect to opening export markets, thereby driving economic growth and making sure that we drive jobs as a direct consequence. We've seen, as a direct result of this government's export policies opening up the world's best preferential market access for Aussie exporters, that we are a government that has delivered in spades when it comes to jobs—403,000 jobs delivered by this government by creating the right economic conditions, much of it driven by access to new export markets. So it's a critical part of what we as a government are focused on.

It's very different on Labor's side, because so many of them are opposed to our free trade agreement agenda. They stand in the way of export deals. We saw that only on Monday the member for Fremantle said in this House:

One thing we know is that trade agreements entered into from our position as a developed high-wage economy don't do much to create jobs.

Yet, in the member for Gilmore's own electorate, Cherub Rubs is creating jobs and said:

The free trade agreements with China and Korea really mean an expansion, which means new Australian jobs manufacturing high-quality products.

There's been a lot of commentary around the TPP, and in particular I had my attention drawn to a recent GQ article. The Leader of the Opposition was there looking very resplendent, I've got to say. He was there with his photograph.

See this speech in context