Michael Sukkar (Deakin, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Trade and Investment. Will the minister update the House on the vital contribution that Australian exporters make to our economy across a wide range of areas and the importance of recognising their efforts?

Andrew Robb (Goldstein, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade and Investment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I acknowledge the accomplished private-sector career of the member, which has given him a strong trade and investment understanding. Australian exports have been a major reason why Australia has enjoyed 24 years of uninterrupted economic growth. In fact, through to June this year, exports contributed 1.4 to 2.4 per cent growth. We have got some wonderful and innovative exporters out there, and their efforts were celebrated on Friday night at the 53rd Australian Export Awards in Melbourne. From 74 finalists there were 12 category winners. The finalists generated more than $1.9 billion in export sales in 2014-15 and employ more than 16½ thousand Australians.

Victoria's ANCA, manufacturers of innovative advanced machinery—high-tech tool and cutter grinders—were named Exporter of the Year and also won the manufacturing category. They are based in Bayswater North, bordering the member's and the Speaker's electorates, and recently hired 160 new employees to meet the increased demand for their products. In 2014-15, ANCA achieved 39 per cent growth in export sales, with revenue exceeding $197 million. ANCA—exporting to Germany, the US, Japan, China, the UK and many more—are living proof that Australia has a healthy future, with knowledge-based manufacturing of innovative, high-quality products. The other category winners were—and I think they should be recognised in this place—agribusiness: Austral Fisheries, WA; business services: Nuix, New South Wales; creative industries: Alt.vfx, Queensland; environmental solutions: Rubicon Water, Victoria; health and biotechnology: Blackmores—and what a year they have had; information and communication technology: Soprano Design; minerals, energy and related services: Blast Movement Technologies, Queensland; online sales: Halfbrick Studios, Queensland; regional exporter: Tasmanian Quality Meats; and small business: b.box for kids in Victoria.

The free trade agreements we have concluded with Korea, Japan and China, as well as the transformational Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, are unlocking unprecedented access to major markets for our exporters, and we have been and are a proud trading nation. To the winners of the Australian Export Awards, along with other category finalists: we salute you.