Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Hansard source

We on this side of the chamber understand that our relationship with Indonesia is vital to the prosperity of northern Australia and the nation as a whole. We have a $3.8 billion trade relationship with Indonesia, and this government is committed to see that grow for one simple reason: it means more jobs. This government was left a legacy of mistrust and suspicion following the actions of those opposite while in office. However, we are repairing that relationship. In fact, since coming to office we have experienced a massive 120 per cent increase in the volume of live cattle exported to Indonesia from 2012-13 to 2013-14. What does this mean for producers in the North? According to ABARE, these increases in cattle sold for live export and the higher cattle prices have resulted in farm cash income increasing from $143,000 to $277,000 per farm. (Time expired)