Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Smith, one of the very many good young women on this side of the chamber, for that question. There's no doubt that some Australian exporters have done it really tough as a result of the neglect by the previous government, the worsening conditions during the pandemic as well as Russia's terrible war on the Ukraine. Exporters are critical to our economy, and they deserve a government who will stand with them and ensure that they get the support they need to thrive. To this end, last week in Brisbane, I announced the establishment of a new service to help Australian food and beverage exporters navigate global supply chains.

One of the biggest ongoing challenges for Australian exporters is getting their produce to international customers. Over the past few years, the freight environment has changed irreversibly. There's no doubt that the supply chains we see today are very different to the supply chains that we saw prior to the pandemic. To help these exporters navigate these complexities, the Australian government has established the Export Supply Chain Service. Under this new service, Australian exporters, state and territory governments, and industry bodies will have access to information and insights on supply chain issues. It will give Australian exporters the information and the insights that they need to inform their decision-making and navigate what have become very complex supply chain issues.

Throughout the pandemic, many Australian businesses have demonstrated ingenuity and grit in response to ongoing trade disruptions. With the aid of the Australian government, they will continue to do so. (Time expired)