John Murphy (Reid, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is for the Minister for Trade. Dr Emerson, how do Australia's domestic economic policies affect our trade performance? What would be the impact on Australian jobs and prosperity of pursuing policies that undermine Australia's competitiveness and export performance?

Craig Emerson (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Dunedoo for his question. The Hawke-Keating governments set about systematically to fashion an open, competitive economy to turn the Australian economy away from an inward-looking economy protected by high tariff barriers—

Mrs Mirabella interjecting—

and the sledging has already started from the member for Indi, of course, because she is absolutely and totally opposed to trade.

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

Order! The member for Indi will cease interjecting, but the Minister for Trade will ignore the interjections.

Craig Emerson (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The result of the creation of the open, competitive economy through trade policy and broader economic policy has been that it has laid the foundations for two decades of recession-free economic growth, setting Australia apart from the rest of the developed world with such strong recession-free economic growth. These economic trade policies literally were designed to put Australia in the right place at the right time in the Asian region in the Asian century, a consequence of visionary leadership by Bob Hawke, Paul Keating and—I will give some credit—the coalition under John Howard.

I have, however, been asked about the impact on jobs and prosperity of policies that damage Australia's competitiveness and export performance. Of course, this parliament has had to confront a private members' bill that would have banned imports of apples from New Zealand, an antitrade policy that would have risked retaliation for our Australian farmers. We have had to contemplate a piece of legislation—a private members' bill on palm oil labelling—that similarly would have violated our international obligations. We have had to contemplate a policy that would prohibit international trading in carbon permits. The truth is that the Leader of the Opposition is not against international trade—just so long as it does not involve foreigners.

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on two points of order. Firstly, you have already ruled in question time now on five occasions that ministers must address the subject matter about which they have been asked, not the opposition's policies, and I put it to you that, if the opposition is not allowed to ask the Prime Minister about her actions in relation to the member for Dobell, how can the minister be asked about the opposition's policies, for which he is not responsible?

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

Under the standing orders there is no point of order, but there is a point. I remind the Minister for Trade that he was asked in the latter part of the question words to the effect of 'certain actions would undermine outcomes'. What I have indicated is that I am happy for a discussion about those matters, but when it is used then to open up this discussion of opposition policies it should be done in a very careful way and not as has been done under previous interpretations of the standing orders. But the Minister for Trade has the call.

Craig Emerson (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you. Talking about policies that are needed to maintain our competitiveness, of course, sound fiscal policy is needed, and I want to take the opportunity to congratulate the Treasurer of Australia for his award—for the accolade and the recognition that he so richly deserves.

But of course a large budget black hole totalling in round figures $70 billion would undermine Australia's competitiveness. To be fair, is there a $70 billion black hole in contemplation? I think that is a worthy question to ask. Well, not if you believe the Leader of the Opposition, who says it is absolutely fanciful and there is no $70 billion black hole in contemplation. But there is another view, and it says, no, it is not a furphy; we came out with that figure.

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

The minister will conclude his answer.

Craig Emerson (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Was that, as they are suggesting, the Labor Party? No; that was the shadow finance minister who admitted there was a $70 billion black hole.

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

The minister will conclude his answer.

Craig Emerson (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The last word goes to Professor John Hewson, who says this man is totally innumerate.