John Williams (NSW, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Cabinet Secretary representing the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Senator Sinodinos. Noting that the government has already delivered unmatched preferential market access to the three northern Asian powerhouse economies, can the Cabinet Secretary outline what other opportunities the government is delivering for Australian exporters?

Arthur Sinodinos (NSW, Liberal Party, Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Williams for his question and for his ongoing interest in tourism, trade and investment. During the Prime Minister's first head-of-government visit to Indonesia, he and the President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, agreed to revive negotiations for a free trade and investment partnership between our two countries. Now, this is an important priority for both countries, which is why, when Mr Ciobo, in the other place, was appointed Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, his first trip of this parliament was to Indonesia to meet with his Indonesian counterpart.

Australia and Indonesia's trade and investment relationship is underdone, despite us being large G20 economies in close proximity. Australia's two-way trade with Indonesia was valued at $14.8 billion in 2014-15, making it our 12th largest merchandise trade partner. With a growing population of more than 250 million people, Indonesia really is the economic superpower of the ASEAN region, and for us it presents a tremendous opportunity. Examples of this can be seen in the beef sector, as well as in food manufacturing. Our wheat is sent to Indonesia and then turned into noodles and biscuits, which Indonesia exports to nations in the region. It is a great mark of our partnership. Like our landmark agreements with China, Korea and Japan, a bilateral trade agreement with Indonesia would be hugely beneficial to Australia.

I hope on this occasion that the Leader of the Opposition will be more supportive of this agreement than he was when we brought the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement to this parliament. He was left rather isolated on the Labor side of politics. Daniel Andrews, Annastacia Palaszczuk, Jay Weatherill, Andrew Barr, Bob Hawke, Simon Crean, Bob Carr, Luke Foley and Bryan Green all publicly endorsed that agreement, while Mr Shorten was a hold-out. It all goes to show that Mr Shorten needs to become a mature national leader who understands the benefits of trade— (Time expired)

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

Senator Williams, a supplementary question.

John Williams (NSW, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can the Cabinet Secretary detail any examples of Australian businesses trading with Indonesia and how they could benefit from closer economic relations between our two nations?

Arthur Sinodinos (NSW, Liberal Party, Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There are cattle stations right up and down Australia which will benefit from exporting capital to Indonesia—cattle to Indonesia; I spent too long in the banking sector! This includes Consolidated Pastoral Company, one of Australia's biggest beef exporters, with its head office in Brisbane. CPC—

Sam Dastyari (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You're just giving us fodder!

Arthur Sinodinos (NSW, Liberal Party, Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Those opposite do not like listening to this stuff. They do not like it when they hear about Australian companies actually taking advantage of free trade agreements. CPC has almost 400,000 head of cattle across its 18 stations, from Carlton Hill along the Ord River in Western Australia to Cooinda in Queensland's central west and Kirkimbie in the Northern Territory. CPC also employs hundreds of people across Australia, including a number of our First Australians. CPC recognises that Indonesia is Australia's largest cattle export market, with growth to continue strongly over the years and decades to come. Indonesia has the fourth largest population and third fastest per capita income growth. (Time expired)

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

Senator Williams, a final supplementary question.

John Williams (NSW, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is the Cabinet Secretary aware of any alternative approaches to our trade relationship with Indonesia?

Arthur Sinodinos (NSW, Liberal Party, Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

(—) (): Yes, I am aware of different approaches to the relationship between our two countries. You judge countries and governments by their actions, not just by their words, and many in this place will remember how Labor in government treated the great country of Indonesia. Labor shut down the entire cattle industry overnight, leaving Australian farmers devastated, exacerbating Indonesia's food security concerns and undermining Indonesia's confidence in Australia as a trade partner. The big mistake Indonesia made was not having the CFMEU on its side! Then maybe Labor would have thought twice about banning the industry. That is the truth. Conversely, this government has established a productive trade in cattle with Indonesia, including securing a commitment from Indonesia to introduce an annual permit, to bring certainty and stability to industries in both countries. It was people like Senator Macdonald, the 'lion of the north', whose birthday it is today, who did so much to bring this issue— (Time expired)