Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Hansard source

Exporters are critical because exporters provide the dollars into our economy that allow us to provide for the strong social safety net that Australia has and the strong investment in education and health services. Exporters are a core part of the strong economy that Australia has that is stronger thanks to the work of our government that allows us to be able to fund all of those investments whilst ensuring that we bring the budget back to balance as well. Export businesses also, on average, hire 23 per cent more staff than non-exporting businesses, pay 11 per cent higher wages and have labour productivity that is 13 per cent higher. We can see real benefits from those businesses who look outwards. But those opportunities are under threat, because, whilst our government has done such a great job expanding market access, we see from the Labor Party promises to go out and renegotiate Australia's trade agreements, a threat of uncertainty that will hamper investment and risk those many benefits that come to Australia— (Time expired)