Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

As we discussed and as I mentioned several times, this bill is introducing nothing new; it has exactly the same arrangements that we have for our other nine free trade agreements—arrangements which we've taken through this chamber twice now. All of the arrangements for these six FTAs are exactly the same; there is no change to the situation that we currently have. What we are doing with this bill is harmonising them so that we have one system and one approach for all of these FTAs. As I've confirmed, JSCOT's role has not changed at all. What has changed is that we're bringing these six into alignment with our other nine FTAs so that they are simpler to administer, they are cleaner and they are also much easier for our traders. That is really the heart of this. There is no difference in this bill and in the arrangements from what we've already had twice through this chamber.