Nola Marino (Forrest, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment. Will the minister outline to the House the importance of affordable and reliable energy for the Australian wine industry? Is the minister aware of any alternative approaches that would threaten Australian winemakers' ability to produce and export wine?

Steven Ciobo (Moncrieff, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for her question, because she, like others on this side of the House, in the coalition, is passionate about trade policy. It stands, frankly, in stark contrast to the Labor Party. We are 295 days into this parliament, there have been 62 question times and I am yet to get a single question from the shadow minister for trade. I am yet to get a single question from the member for Blaxland. In fact, he is so out of practice that he tried to do one last week when I was not here, and he stuffed it up. You should at least give him a sporting chance to get up on his feet on trade policy every now and then.

But this side of the House is passionate about trade policy. The reason we are passionate about trade policy is that we understand the direct connection between export markets boosting Australia's economic growth and driving job opportunities. In fact, since the coalition came to power, since we concluded the three North Asian powerhouse free trade agreements, with China, Japan and Korea, we have been paving the way for Aussie wine producers like those from the member's electorate, from the famous Margaret River, to be able to boost their exports into those important export markets.

Ms Chesters interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Bendigo will cease interjecting.

Steven Ciobo (Moncrieff, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We have seen, for example, the value of Australian wine exports has grown by more than 120 per cent since these agreements came into effect. In fact, Australia's total wine exports to those markets are worth nearly $600 million. Just over five years ago, before the agreements were in place, we sold around $230 million worth of wine into China. Now we sell more than $500 million worth of wine into China.

In their submission to the Finkel review, the Winemakers' Federation of Australia noted that electricity accounts for some 70 per cent of energy use at wine production sites and can account for as much as half of the total cost of production. So this side, the Turnbull government, the coalition side, is focused on reducing energy prices, on ensuring stability, on ensuring reliability, and that side of the chamber is doing the exact opposite, because that side of the chamber, under this Leader of the Opposition, is obsessed with ideology and obsessed with protecting his position and making sure that 'Red Bill' there is not challenged by the member for Grayndler. We see it time and time again, where Labor's policy—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister will not refer to members in that way. I have made it very clear.

Steven Ciobo (Moncrieff, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We see it time and time again—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No. The minister will refer to members by their correct titles and he will withdraw.

Steven Ciobo (Moncrieff, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Red Bill?

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister will resume his seat. We are going to the next question.