Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

I think all colleagues would agree that Monday was a momentous occasion for Australia, with Minister Robb securing a trifecta of free trade agreements with the signing of the FTA with China. I am sure all colleagues would also agree that Andrew Robb has been a phenomenally successful trade minister, with the Japan, South Korea and now China FTAs.

I am pleased to inform the Senate that the government has secured the best ever market access provided to a foreign country by China on services. When it comes to services, as Minister Robb has said:

This is the best ever deal China has done by a country mile.

The FTA has secured the best ever commitment with China agreeing to permit the establishment of wholly Australian owned hospitals and aged-care services in China. This does represent an unprecedented opportunity for Australian health services and aged-care providers to access China's vast and growing market. The Chinese population, like our own, is ageing and China will soon need to significantly increase its aged-care services to ensure that older citizens can enjoy a high quality of life.

The opportunities presented to Australian aged-care providers as a result of this agreement are completely unprecedented. Is it truly is a once-in-a-generation chance for aged-care providers to enter a new market that will be experiencing significant growth in demand over the coming years and the coming decades. It is almost impossible, I think, to overstate the significance of the opportunities this FTA has heralded for Australian aged-care services. Again, I think we should at a time like this put partisanship aside, give credit where credit is due and acknowledge the incredible work and results that Andrew Robb has secured.