Josh Wilson (Fremantle, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Primary production in agriculture and fisheries has always been at the bedrock of Australian cultural and economic life, and that continues to be the case today. It's certainly been the case in my electorate of Fremantle, especially in terms of fisheries but also in the form of small-scale fruit and vegetable production, which in some ways is a legacy of the time when market gardens were a distinctive feature of life in Freo and Cockburn. And while Fremantle has for a long time been home to a range of high-quality fishing operations, including Australia's first MSC certified octopus fishery, it's now looking at new kinds of production in the form of activities like seaweed aquaculture. So I'm certainly interested in hearing from the minister about how we're helping this kind of innovation through the $8 million of funding in the Australian seaweed program.

Only last week I had the privilege of going out with Fremantle Seaweed to harvest some Caulerpa and Asparagopsis for transplanting to their 32-hectare aquaculture set-up off C.Y. O'Connor Beach. The Caulerpa is also known as sea grapes. I thought it was pretty good. And of course the Asparagopsis is significant because of its enormous potential as a feed supplement for livestock, with the CSIRO reporting that Asparagopsis can reduce methane emissions in ruminant livestock by more than 90 per cent.

The Albanese government is absolutely backing in this kind of forward-looking innovation in agriculture and aquaculture because that's the nature of primary production: it's always looking to how things can be done better, more efficiently and more sustainably, with higher yields and less environmental impact or even with environmental benefits. Indeed, that concept is what drives the nature repair market, a reform that started with the National Party in the previous government. It allows those who want to invest in environmental repair to be matched with suitable projects, almost always involving farmers and/or First Nations Australians, in order to deliver meaningful and measurable restoration and biodiversity improvements.

Australia is and always has been a trading nation, and I'd ask the minister to provide some information about how agricultural exports are growing under the Albanese government. We know Australian agriculture is the basis of the delicious and healthy produce we all enjoy. But it's also about delivering for an export market, and that's definitely the case with WA's remarkable wheat belt, which has achieved record crops in recent years, the vast majority of which is for export.

In order to achieve the potential of Australia's primary production, we have to look to create new and larger markets overseas. And I can say, as the chair of the Treaties Committee, that I've been fortunate, as has my colleague the member for Spence, to be part of that process. The new government has delivered trade and investment agreements with both the UK and India. As I understand it, that's already seen impressive new market access for Australian farmers and producers. In fact, in the first 12 months since the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement entered into force, agricultural exports were up by 60 per cent, the big winners being salmon, almonds, beans and avocados. I'm particularly glad to note, that as we implement our commitment to sensibly manage the final part of a decades-old transition out of the irremediably harmful live sheep export trade, that processed lamb exports to India increased by 160 per cent last year, while processed lamb and mutton exports to the UK were up by 17 per cent and 75 per cent, respectively, in 2023.

The task of protecting Australia's biosecurity is vital to keep our world-leading produce free from pests and diseases that are rife elsewhere so as to maintain bountiful production, keep animals free from harm, protect the broader community from the risk of zoonotic disease and hold up our reputation across the board in terms of the health and sustainability of Australian food and fibre. The biosecurity challenge has particular meaning in Western Australia, as I know my colleagues will understand, which in some ways, as COVID-19 showed, is an island within an island.

From the outset, the Albanese government has been prepared to take new measures to protect Australian biosecurity and put it on a more sustainable footing. For the first time in our history, we've got a sustainable biosecurity funding model, with a record $1 billion investment. In addition to that record funding, the new model means more transparency for farmers and importers, giving them more of a say on biosecurity priorities. In the most recent budget, we allocated $16.9 million to ensure the biosecurity integrity of Australia's border remains contemporary and adaptable, and that includes specialist technology and equipment, and detector dogs at Western Sydney's new airport to keep Australia free from exotic pests and diseases.

I'm keen to hear from the minister in all of these areas—supporting innovation, improving biosecurity, responding to environmental and climate risks and expanding export market opportunities. I don't think there's any question that the Albanese government, through the excellent work of Minister Watt, is working hand in hand with Australian primary producers to build a stronger and more sustainable future.

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