Jason Wood (La Trobe, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Customs, Community Safety and Multicultural Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

The Customs Amendment (Growing Australian Export Opportunities Across the Asia-Pacific) Bill 2019 amends the Customs Act 1901 to implement Australia's obligations under the trade agreements with Indonesia, Peru and Hong Kong. The Customs Tariff Amendment (Growing Australian Export Opportunities Across the Asia-Pacific) Bill 2019 amends the Customs Tariff Act 1995 to implement Australia's obligations relating to goods under the same three free trade agreements. These agreements will contribute to Australia's prosperity, create jobs and boost Australia's investment and exports across the Asia-Pacific. This legislation is necessary for Australia to ratified the Indonesia, Peru and the Hong Kong free-trade agreements. Under IA-CEPA, over 99 per cent of Australian goods exports will enter duty-free, or under improved arrangements, building upon the 85 per cent in the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, and Indonesia will guarantee automatic issuance of import permits for key products.

Over 99 per cent of all of Peru's tariffs will ultimately be eliminated under the Peru-Australia Free Trade Agreement. The Australia-Hong Kong Free Trade Agreement ensures that Australia's existing duty-free access is guaranteed.

I urge the parliament to pass these bills without any further delay so that Australian businesses, exporters, workers, investors and farmers can benefit from these three agreements. What business wants and what these agreements deliver is certainty. Business, farmers and peak bodies from across the Australian economy have called on their parliamentarians to get together and get this done. The government wishes to thank the Labor Party for supporting these important bills, which will help grow Australia's export opportunities across the Asia-Pacific. The passage of these bills is an important step in implementing the trade agreements with Indonesia, Peru and Hong Kong. At a time of global uncertainty and trade tensions this shows that the Morrison Liberal and Nationals government is creating more opportunities and better market access for Australian farmers, workers, exporters, investors and businesses. As a nation that has long depended on trade and investment, these agreements will open a new chapter in Australia's trading relationships across the Asia-Pacific. I commend the bills to the House.

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