Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Human Services) Share this | Hansard source

As the minister representing the Minister for Trade and Investment, I am not going to comment on a future advertising campaign. I do not know where the shadow minister was on budget night—I have no idea where the shadow minister was on budget night—but we can go to 'Budget Paper No. 2: Budget Measures—Part 2: Expense Measures' and examine what is under 'Foreign Affairs and Trade—Free Trade Agreement Promotion'. As best as I recall, the budget was handed down in May. But, apparently, in the shadow minister's press release this is a revelation. I am fortunate enough to have the document here—revelations that Tony Abbott will spend tens of millions of dollars. The budget was, in fact, revelatory on so many levels, because it was such a superb budget. But calling it—from May to August—'revelatory' is bordering on high farce. It is hardly a secret. Here we go—let me quote for those opposite:

The Government will provide $24.6 million over two years from 2015-16 to promote business understanding of the recently concluded Free Trade Agreements in North Asia and to assist businesses to access and maximise their benefits under these agreements. Advocacy and outreach activities will take place in both Australia and in target offshore markets.

Some secret! Some revelation! It is called 'the budget'.