Bernie Ripoll (Oxley, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Justice. Why is the government's package of improvements to Australia's antidumping system needed to help protect Australian manufacturers and primary producers from unfair trading practices? What has been the response to the government's antidumping measures and is the minister aware of any other approaches?

Brendan O'Connor (Gorton, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Home Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Oxley for his question and his ongoing interest in jobs and manufacturing businesses in his electorate. Last week the government announced reforms, indeed 29 improvements, to strengthen the antidumping regime in this country. Those improvements will see greater resources and more expertise dedicated to investigating cases of dumping which may affect Australian businesses and Australian jobs. We will extend 'material injury' to ensure the remedy is commensurate with damage endured by local businesses, we will enable businesses to access measures more rapidly, we will speed up the process, we will allow greater transparency and we will prevent companies from circumventing duties by disaggregating or aggregating imported goods.

These are very long overdue reforms that have been well received by both industry and unions. Companies such as Capral, BlueScope, OneSteel and Orica have emb­raced the government's announcements of last week. Indeed, the Australian Industry Group responded to the reforms by indicating:

The new anti-dumping measures announced today by the Federal Government are a positive step to help rebalance the playing field for Australian Industry.

The National Farmers Federation responded by saying:

… we are pleased to hear that the Government will improve the resourcing of Customs to work on anti-dumping issues.

The honourable member asked about why these changes are needed and about what other approaches there are. These long overdue reforms are needed because those opposite neglected this area of reform while they were in government. For more than a decade these reforms were required, but the previous government did nothing. They did not listen to industry and they did not listen to workers in this country in order to provide that support. Instead, the Leader of the Opposition decided to set up a task force in opposition—he should have been supporting industry and workers in government—led by the member for Indi, of all people, to go around the country to promise everything but deliver nothing. We, in contrast, have been looking at the Productivity Commission report recommendations and we have been considering the private member's bill introduced into the Senate by Senator Xenophon—and these reforms are compre­hensive. They are comprehensive and they redress the deficiencies that existed under the Howard government when it came to dealing with dumping that caused injury to Austr­alian businesses. The problem with the Leader of the Opposition is that he either just says no or does nothing when it comes to public policy.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The minister will conclude his answer.

Brendan O'Connor (Gorton, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Home Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

He says no or does nothing. They are his two approaches to every public policy matter. That is apparent on this issue and on other matters.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Is the minister concluding his answer?

Brendan O'Connor (Gorton, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Home Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I was asked what the government are doing. The government are responding to this issue. We responded to and dealt with the global financial crisis and supported workers and businesses. We dealt with that issue. We were the party that rid this country of the most extreme IR laws since Federation. We will continue to do the right thing as we have done in this area.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The minister will conclude.

Brendan O'Connor (Gorton, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Home Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We will continue to do the right thing by workers and business in this country.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The minister will conclude!