Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Trade and Tourism, Senator Farrell. The first shipment of raw sugar from Australia to the United Kingdom under a new bilateral free trade agreement arrived in London last week. Before the United Kingdom joined the EU in 1973, the UK was a major market for Australian sugar. But after the UK joined the EU, Australian sugar exports were crushed because of incredibly high import tariffs. Last week's arrival of the 33,000-metric-tonne sugar shipment marks the reopening of a valuable market for Australian sugar producers and exporters. Minister, would you outline what action the Albanese government has taken to pave the way for the first shipment of Australian sugar to the UK in 50 years?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator O'Neill for her question in respect of these sugar exports; I know that the state of New South Wales is one of the states which produces the finest sugar in the world.

Thanks to the hard work of the Albanese Labor government to finalise a UK Free trade agreement, last week—

A government senator: We did what?

Yes, we finalised it. Last week, Australian canegrowers witnessed the first shipment of raw sugar arriving in the UK in over 50 years. Now, consumers across the UK will be celebrating the return of Australian-grown sugar to their supermarket shelves. Their scones with jam will be just a little bit sweeter—

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

Oh, I love that!

Honourable senators interjecting—

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Go easy! Calm down!

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order across the chamber! Minister Farrell, please continue.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Some of those Queenslanders will be monarchists. Prior to the Albanese government implementing Australia's trade agreement with the UK, Australian sugar exports faced extremely high import tariffs. The former coalition government let the industry down by failing to implement an agreement with the United Kingdom, but industry could rely on the Albanese government to clean up the mess that we had been left, and we didn't let them down. We prioritised the trade deal with our close trading partner and friend the United Kingdom. The first shipment of tariff-free sugar to the UK market last week is proof that the trade agreement is delivering real, practical benefits for Australian farmers and workers like those heralding from the great state of Queensland and represented by the Queensland Cane Growers Organisation, who I met with yesterday. But the Senate can be assured that the Australian sugar industry isn't the only industry— (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator O'Neill, a first supplementary?

Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement is considered a gold-standard trade deal. In addition to opening the UK market for Australian sugar, could the minister provide some examples of the other benefits this agreement delivers to Australian farmers, to businesses and to workers?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator O'Neill, for your first supplementary question. Yes, I can provide that information to you, because our trade deal with the United Kingdom is a gold-standard free trade agreement. It delivers for Australian farmers, businesses and workers by removing import tariffs on over 99 per cent of our $10 billion two-way trade in goods with the United Kingdom. The removal of these border taxes increases opportunities for Australian exports of not only sugar but also beef, sheep meat, wine, honey, dairy and manufactured products like auto parts, electrical equipment and cosmetic products. The agreement also supports our services exporters by making it easier for Australian workers to provide services into the UK market. The Albanese government has delivered a great deal that provides unprecedented benefits for all Australians, creating more higher-paying jobs and commercial opportunities.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator O'Neill, a second supplementary?

Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

nator O'NEILL () (): Thank you for that uplifting response, Minister. The implementation of free trade agreements is an important element of the government's trade diversification agenda. Could the minister outline what resources are available to Australian farmers and businesses to seize the opportunities delivered under the Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator O'Neill for her second supplementary question. Yes, I can answer that question for you, Senator O'Neill, because the Albanese Labor government is supporting Australian businesses to enter or expand in the UK market through a range of export services. Examples of support for Australian exporters to make the most of the UK free trade agreement include free, practical assistance from the Austrade TradeStart network to develop export strategies and find valuable contacts in the United Kingdom, including through business missions and trade shows. The financial assistance through the Export Market Development Grants program helps eligible Australian businesses to get a foothold in the United Kingdom market. There are opportunities to participate in the London Landing Pad, where innovative Australian technology companies can scale up into the UK market. These are some of the ways that the Albanese government is helping exporters. (Time expired)