Andrew Charlton (Parramatta, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Why is trade important to economic growth? What impact has the Albanese government's engagement on trade had on Australian export industries? What opportunities are there in the future?

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Members on my left will cease interjecting.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Parramatta for his question and for welcoming me to his electorate just a week ago, looking at affordable housing there around the Westmead precinct. We are the 13th largest economy in the world, but to keep growing we need to focus on a future made in Australia, pursuing greater diversity in what we make and what we send to the world, making more things here and getting economic growth as a result. Tomorrow marks one year since the Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement entered into force. In the first 10 months since the deal was implemented, Australian exports to the UK have reached $5 billion, a 100 per cent increase, including in things like sheep meat, which has expanded substantially, as well as wine and other produce as well.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Members on my left will cease interjecting.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This government has also worked hard to stabilise our relationship with China. Our approach has been patient, calibrated and deliberate—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the Nationals will cease interjecting.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

without compromising any of our national interests, and it has paid dividends. Today I welcome the announcement that five of Australia's leading beef producers can resume their exports to China. This means jobs. This means economic growth. This means significant benefit for farmers, particularly in Queensland and in New South Wales—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the Nationals will cease interjecting.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

JBS Beef City in Purrawunda in Queensland, JBS Dinmore in Riverview, Kilcoy Pastoral Company in Kilcoy, Meramist in Caboolture and the Northern Co-operative Meat Company in Casino on the north coast of New South Wales. This follows the opening up of our exports of coal, cotton, copper ores, timber, barley and of course, more recently, wine. Of the $20 billion of trade impediments that were there with China, almost all of them now have been lifted.

But we can do more across the board as well, including the deal that we have done, the largest ever defence export deal, of $1 billion for 100 Boxers that are made in Redbank in Queensland to be exported to Germany. We're growing our economy, creating secure jobs and boosting our industries. Future Made in Australia presents enormous opportunities for further growth in our exports, critical minerals, value-adding and advanced manufacturing, including in areas like green aluminium and green steel. If we get this right, we can secure a very prosperous future for Australia. Trade is an important part of it. We will continue to defend the national interest by advancing a future made here in Australia. (Time expired)