Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I am advised that this is a trade related matter. Not agreeing to the WTO rules—the very same rules under which we trade our goods and services over­seas—would expose Australian exporters and Australian trade to retaliatory action from New Zealand. Australia exported some­thing in the order of $8 billion in goods and services to New Zealand in 2010. New Zealand could retaliate against any Austra­lian product and they can raise their tariffs on Australian goods up to 100 per cent. We have an issue which could encompass not only Australian farms but also businesses. New Zealand could choose to target agri­cultural goods—the $110 million of sugar we send to New Zealand, the $10 million of citrus fruit we send to New Zealand, the $90 million of pig-meat we send to New Zealand and the $18 million of beef we send to New Zealand.

First and foremost it is important to acknowledge this: the department's biosecurity staff have developed a set of import conditions to manage the risks associated with this trade. Whether people believe that the WTO got it right or wrong, the department has conducted a science based review which is broadly supported by at least three state government biosecurity agencies. Whatever people think of the World Trade Organisation or the merits of the case, there is a bipartisan commitment in this place between the government and the opposition to abide by the international terms— (Time expired)