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

I thank Senator Rennick for his question. He is a known champion of Australian business and Australian jobs, particularly those from Queensland. Right across the globe, far too many businesses and far too many jobs have been tragically disrupted by COVID-19. Some of those disruptions, including here in Australia, have been unavoidable as a result of necessary shutdowns and restrictions across economies. Others have been consequential disruptions. Indeed, many of our exporting businesses have been victims of the consequences of different restrictions, particularly those exporting premium produce to the world. They have been victims of the shutdown of international aviation. An estimated 80 or even 90 per cent of international air freight out of Australia is traditionally carried in the bellies of passenger aircraft, which, of course, are no longer flying. That's why our government has injected more than $350 million into the International Freight Assistance Mechanism. It's targeted, it's temporary and it's providing emergency support to make sure that exporters, while still having to pay a premium to get their goods to market, can at least still get them to market. We have sent and supported Western Australian pork getting to Singapore, Tasmanian salmon to Taiwan, Cairns coral trout to Hong Kong, New South Wales tuna to Japan, South Australian kingfish to Europe and Victorian lamb to the UAE. IFAM is also providing important support for medical imports coming into the country—critical, essential imports in our national interest. To date, IFAM has supported an estimated 4,376 flights that would otherwise probably not have occurred from nine domestic departure points to over 65 international destinations, carrying 94½ thousand tonnes representing more than $1.1 billion in export value to our nation, ensuring those exports still flow and ensuring income and jobs for Australia. (Time expired)