Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Sterle, for asking the third question this week from Labor senators about agriculture, which I think is as many as the opposition have asked in the entire parliament. That's how interested they are in agriculture. The Albanese government, as you said, Senator Sterle, is putting the runs on the board this year to ensure Australian farmers, processors and exporters have the best possible access to international markets. Across Australia, one in four jobs rely on trade, so access to international markets is essential for the profitability of Australia's export focused agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors.

Recently, there have been positive developments in the reinstatement of trade in cotton, horticulture and timber and the removal of tariffs from Australian barley going to China. Our calm persistence and sensible dialogue has expedited an outcome for Australian barley producers, with the removal of tariff barriers. I am aware a small number of key grains exporters are still suspended from accessing the Chinese market, and we are working with industry and the Chinese customs agency to ensure that all producers are now promptly registered and allowed access to the market. Just yesterday Minister Farrell wrote to his Chinese counterpart, Minister Wang Wentao, to seek his assistance to promptly conclude the relisting of these exporters. There is also more work to be done to remove the trade barriers that remain on wine, beef and lobster going into the Chinese market, and the Albanese government will continue that work.

While our government is working incredibly hard to restore market access with our largest trading partner, the first half of this year has also been very successful in opening the agriculture sector to new markets as well as improving and maintaining existing markets. The barley industry has been a diversification success story. Producers have increased their exports to the rest of the world from $400 million to $3 billion. More broadly, our trade strategy is paying dividends for Aussie farmers. Through expanding markets, the Albanese government is delivering a growth agenda for Australian agriculture.