Luke Gosling (Solomon, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Labor supports this motion by the member for Fairfax. Australia is one of the world's great trading nations, and the fact that Australia has been recording trade surpluses is, of course, pleasing. It is a good thing, but I would caution those opposite about too much self-congratulation. These trade surpluses are, as most know, due to the near doubling of the world iron ore price from US$69 a tonne to the current US$121 a tonne in the last six months. This price rise is due to a number of factors, including Beijing's economic stimulus program and a dam bursting in Brazil, neither of which have anything at all to do with those opposite.

Up in the Northern Territory, we pay attention to trade because we are closer, both physically and psychologically, to those growing Asian markets than perhaps the rest of Australia. These markets are vital for the economic development of northern Australia and, in particular, Darwin, the place that I represent, which has long been regarded as Australia's gateway to Asia. I was honoured that the leader of the Labor Party, Anthony Albanese, appointed me to head a task force on northern Australia and increasing trade with our near region in South East Asia and the Asia-Pacific. I will be working closely with the shadow minister for trade, Madeleine King, and the shadow minister for northern Australia, Senator Murray Watt, as we try to convince those opposite in the Morrison government of the merits of developing the north from a strategic and economic point of view. There has been so little done by those opposite in developing the north since a white paper was released some five years ago that we've started a Senate inquiry into just what has been achieved in five years of the 'developing the north' rhetoric from those opposite.

Labor went to the last election with a coherent and costed policy for Darwin and the Northern Territory. The election results for me and the member for Lingiari are proof that the people of Darwin and Palmerston could see the merit in our proposals. A specific proposal, of building a ship lift for both defence and civilian use, was high on the agenda. This important part of strategic infrastructure would result in ships, whether they be from our region or Australian vessels, undergoing routine maintenance and refits in Darwin rather than sailing away to Cairns or Singapore. This would mean a significant improvement in our defence infrastructure and capability in northern Australia and also jobs for Territorians. I call on the government to take up this proposal and build the ship lift in Darwin.

Meanwhile, the Northern Territory government is pursuing an ambitious international engagement, trade and investment strategy. The Territory's annual exports to Japan are worth $2.6 billion, to China, $1.4 billion, and to Indonesia, $320 million. We have huge trade opportunities in defence, space, agribusiness, energy, international education, rare earth minerals and tourism, to name just a few. We also have huge competitive advantages: proximity to Asia, land, water and mineral resources, local expertise, people-to-people relations and a young and culturally diverse population. Darwin truly is the gateway to Asia. I encourage all members to join us on 9 September for Facing North here in Parliament House—put a note in your diary—and learn some more about northern Australia's strategic and trading capital of Darwin.

We do celebrate trade and we welcome this motion. We do have a proud record in trade, and I think both sides can point to the past where we have had great trading agreements reached. What I would caution those opposite on doing, though, is pursuing trade agreements for the sake of it, for the sake of a news grab, because, at the end of the day, trade deals should be more about the national interest than just getting a news grab. I commend the member's motion.

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