Lucy Gichuhi (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Senator Birmingham. Will the minister inform the Senate about the recently held 56th Australian Export Awards?

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Gichuhi for her question and her deep interest in the success of Australian exporters, who, of course, come from all walks of life, all backgrounds. Last night nearly 100 exporters gathered here in Canberra to celebrate the 56th Australian Export Awards. These were 100 amazing examples of Australian ingenuity, the drive, the innovation and of course the risk-taking that come from those who decide to look beyond our shores and to sell high-quality Australian goods, services and products into markets overseas.

What was particularly pleasing to see last night is that 35 per cent of those participants at the national export awards were small businesses—businesses employing fewer than 20 people but who were out there selling their products on the world stage. They'd come through the export awards at a state or territory level to represent their state or territory and then gone on to be here at a national level. That's a credit to the fact that Australian business is willing to have a go. They're increasingly willing to have a go thanks to the work of our government in making it easier for Australian businesses to export and to access international markets. A significant number, 45 per cent of the participants in the export awards, are exporting into markets like Japan, Korea and China—markets in which our government has delivered free trade agreements over recent years, ensuring exporters can get improved, enhanced access into those markets. That is an example of where we have managed to expand the scope for business. Five years ago, Australian business only had duty-free or preferential access into 26 per cent of markets where goods and services trade occurred. Today that stands at nearly 70 per cent—a huge increase in terms of the markets our businesses can access, and that's why trade has contributed an estimated one-quarter of Australia's economic growth over these last five years.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Gichuhi, a supplementary question.

Lucy Gichuhi (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can minister advise the Senate about any exporter success stories, particularly in my home state of South Australia?

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Indeed, Senator Gichuhi, our home state of South Australia had a great night at the export awards last night. This is outstanding news. South Australian businesses were recognised in the category of Australian Exporter of the Year and received the Regional Exporter Award and the e-Commerce Award. South Australian exporter SEAPA jointly won the Exporter of the Year Award with ACT business Aspen Medical. SEAPA specialises in innovative injection-moulded plastic oyster baskets, enabling oyster farmers to grow higher quality oysters at lower cost. They began exporting to North America but today also export into Europe and Asia, a great example of Australian ingenuity, driving export businesses overseas. Torbreck Vintners won the Regional Exporter Award. I expect Senator Wong would look up there—I suspect she enjoys Torbreck's drops. They are great Barossa Valley red wines. It is a fine South Australian business, exporting now to 42 countries across the world. Adelaide business SWEAT, winner of the e-Commerce Award, is the world's largest— (Time expired)

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Gichuhi, a final supplementary question.

Lucy Gichuhi (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Minister, for that response. Minister, why are our exporters so vital to the Australian economy and why is it important that government continues to back them in?

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Exporters are critical because exporters provide the dollars into our economy that allow us to provide for the strong social safety net that Australia has and the strong investment in education and health services. Exporters are a core part of the strong economy that Australia has that is stronger thanks to the work of our government that allows us to be able to fund all of those investments whilst ensuring that we bring the budget back to balance as well. Export businesses also, on average, hire 23 per cent more staff than non-exporting businesses, pay 11 per cent higher wages and have labour productivity that is 13 per cent higher. We can see real benefits from those businesses who look outwards. But those opportunities are under threat, because, whilst our government has done such a great job expanding market access, we see from the Labor Party promises to go out and renegotiate Australia's trade agreements, a threat of uncertainty that will hamper investment and risk those many benefits that come to Australia— (Time expired)