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

I thank Senator Duniam, indeed, for his policy focused question that looks very much to how it is Australians can rely on a government that will back them in their jobs, back them in their aspirations and back them in ensuring that they can deliver for their families.

The Prime Minister has just returned, along with Senator Cormann, from a successful G20 summit in Argentina. The Prime Minister went there with a very clear message—that trade plays a key role in underpinning Australia's prosperity and, indeed, the prosperity of all G20 nations. That message was heard loud and clear. We welcome the fact that G20 leaders unanimously agreed that trade is an engine for growth, for productivity, for innovation, for job creation and for economic development. That's why our government has been a consistent and strong supporter of free and open trade, and why we've worked so hard to give Australian businesses more opportunities to sell more goods and services around the world. In doing so, we now support a trade ecosystem that sees around 2.2 million Australians, or one in five Australian jobs, underpinned by our trading relationships.

The discussions Prime Minister Morrison had with world leaders were about advancing more opportunities for Australian farmers and businesses. That's why the Prime Minister in his meeting with the European Commission President, Jean-Claude Juncker, agreed to accelerate our FTA negotiations with the EU, where our farmers have long battled for better access. Prime Minister Morrison equally agreed with UK Prime Minister May to reaffirm our commitment to commencing bilateral FTA negotiations with Britain as soon as they leave the EU.

These are important opportunities to build on our successful relationships with China, with Korea, with Japan, with the United States, through the new TPP-11, with Indonesia, to make sure that we continue to create more opportunities for Australian farmers and businesses, to sell more goods around the world, and in doing so sustain more opportunities for employment and jobs for more Australian families.