Barry O'Sullivan (Queensland, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 793 before seeking to have the motion taken as formal.

Leave granted.

I move the motion as amended:

That the Senate:

(a) notes that:

(i) the opportunity now exists for Australian mango growers – a $110 million a year industry that produces the best mangoes in the world – to nominate for export to lucrative markets such as the United States of America, China, Japan and Korea,

(ii) a key to increasing farm gate returns for Australian producers is through creating new trade opportunities for Australia’s agricultural sector, and

(iii) since September 2013, the Government has achieved 42 key market access gains or restorations of suspended markets, and 14 key market access improvements or actions to maintain market access; and

(b) calls on the Australian Greens to reconsider their opposition to free trade agreements, placing in jeopardy Australian producers’ access to new markets and the growth of primary production export industries.

Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, this is a dog whistle. This is nothing short of an attempt to wedge the Greens, because we have been doing some fantastic work on behalf of a lot of people in this country on so-called free trade deals. Unfortunately, Senator O'Sullivan, through you, Mr President, there is no such thing as a free trade agreement. The Greens believe in fair trade, that is fair trade for cattlemen, fair trade for producers in this country, fair trade for workers and fair trade for the environment.

We are the only ones who have been raising issues on what is in the national interest. What is in the national interest of these so-called free trade deals? We are not anti-trade all. Let us make that very clear. The Greens support fair trade. Unfortunately, as the Senate has recommended, the parliamentary system, the treaty process in this country, is broken and desperately needs reform. There is no evidence at all that these so-called free trade agreements are going to benefit agricultural producers. This is purely a dog whistle. (Time expired)

Nick Xenophon (SA, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Nick Xenophon (SA, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It pains me to say so, but I cannot support Senator O'Sullivan. It is not because I do not support the mango industry, which is a wonderful Australian industry. Simply attaching a subparagraph at the end of that motion saying that if you oppose a free trade agreement you oppose the mango industry is, I suggest, not a fair way of putting the question. I support free trade agreements but I do not support Australia's sovereignty being compromised, and that is something I am happy to discuss with Senator O'Sullivan, who I have great respect for. The ISDS clauses do compromise Australian sovereignty, and I just want to set my concerns about the motion, commend Senator O'Sullivan for his passionate advocacy of Australian agriculture, in particular the mango industry, but note that clause (d) is a deal breaker.

Question agreed to.