Bob Day (SA, Family First Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) acknowledges the Turnbull Government's renewed focus on innovation and improved commercialisation of research;

(b) welcomes the recent Australian delegations to Israel, including a delegation with the Assistant Minister for Innovation (Mr Roy), to support innovation-related trade with Israel;

(c) notes that the 2015 Bloomberg Global Innovation index:

(i) ranked Israel 5th overall ahead of the United States of America (US) in 6th and Australia in 13th place, and

(ii) shows Australia now has free trade agreements with the 1st (Japan), 2nd (South Korea), 6th (US) and 8th (Singapore) ranked nations;

(d) recognises that the European Union, the US, Canada, Mexico, Colombia and Turkey have direct free trade agreements with Israel; and

(e) calls on the Australian Government to initiate negotiations with Israel towards a free trade agreement.

I seek leave to make a short statement.

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

Leave is granted for one minute.

Bob Day (SA, Family First Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am a strong supporter of Israel. Its unique circumstances force it to be innovative. Our nations have many things in common, as I outlined in my question today. Israel is the next big thing in the entrepreneurial start-up space. We should embrace the great innovating nation of Israel.

Scott Ryan (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Cabinet Secretary) 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.

Scott Ryan (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

While Israel is not part of the government's current FTA work program, it is an interesting point that the senator raises. Israel is of course a firm friend of Australia. The government is already pursuing an ambitious trade agenda. In the past year the government has concluded FTA negotiations with three key partners—Korea, Japan and China—as well as the 12 countries of the Trans-Pacific Partnership. We are also progressing negotiations towards the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and a bilateral free trade agreement with India.

The government considers a range of factors when determining whether to pursue a bilateral free trade agreement. Australia seeks to conclude FTAs with partners that have shared interests and FTAs that are high-quality and comprehensive, are genuinely trade-liberalising and advance our broader objectives, including at the multilateral level and the WTO. The government also considers the opportunity for Australian exporters and investors to secure commercial benefits.

Israel was Australia's 43rd-ranked bilateral trading partner in 2014, with total merchandise trade of $961 million. Despite the modest trade flows, bilateral engagement and business links remain vibrant, with significant interest in the innovation and technology sectors. In this context I note that the Israeli Chief Scientist, ‎Avi Hasson, is in Australia this week for an exchange of views and perspectives. (Time expired)

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

The question is that the motion moved by Senator Day be agreed to.

Question agreed to.