❓ Mrs. Harvey questions the Premier about actions taken regarding potential Chinese tariffs on Australian barley, particularly the impact on WA farmers. The Premier details actions taken by his government and emphasizes the importance of strong trading relationships for WA's economy.
AnsweredQoN 254Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
BARLEY EXPORTS —
CHINESE TARIFFS
254. Mrs L.M. HARVEY to the Premier:
Before
I ask my question of the Premier, I also put on the record on behalf of the
Liberal opposition my appreciation for all nurses on International
Nurses Day. Coming from a family of nurses, who all have a stronger stomach
than me, I have a great appreciation for the work that they do on behalf of Western
Australians.
I refer to a potential 80 per cent tariff that may be imposed
on Australian barley, including the almost 90 per cent of which is produced in Western
Australia. Has the Premier personally spoken to the Consul-General of the
People's Republic of China in Perth to express the state government's
concerns and to highlight the damage such a tariff will disproportionately
impact on WA farmers; and, if not, why not?
CHINESE TARIFFS
254. Mrs L.M. HARVEY to the Premier:
Before
I ask my question of the Premier, I also put on the record on behalf of the
Liberal opposition my appreciation for all nurses on International
Nurses Day. Coming from a family of nurses, who all have a stronger stomach
than me, I have a great appreciation for the work that they do on behalf of Western
Australians.
I refer to a potential 80 per cent tariff that may be imposed
on Australian barley, including the almost 90 per cent of which is produced in Western
Australia. Has the Premier personally spoken to the Consul-General of the
People's Republic of China in Perth to express the state government's
concerns and to highlight the damage such a tariff will disproportionately
impact on WA farmers; and, if not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
I became aware of the potential
tariff on Australian malting barley from Chinese customers on Sunday afternoon
when the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Hon Alannah MacTiernan, told me
about it. We had a discussion about the issue, and I requested that she get in
contact with the Chinese consul and also take up the case with the commonwealth
government on behalf of Western Australian farmers and industry. I understand
that she has done that. She has been in contact with both levels, both Minister
Birmingham and the Chinese Consulate. I have been in contact with the Prime
Minister about the issue, to offer the Western Australian government's
support for any national efforts to support our primary producers with our
largest marketplace. I made that approach to the Prime Minister to offer
whatever help the Western Australian government can provide to support our
producers with our Chinese customers.
I think this brings into focus a bigger
issue; that is, as we emerge from COVID-19, we need to
keep our traditional trading relationships strong with all our trading
partners. Western Australia is, more than any other state in the country, a trading
state. Most of our economy is based upon the things we sell overseas. Our GDP
per person is about half as much again as the national average. It is half as
much again because we are such a productive state. Our industries rely upon the
places we trade with, and that is why I have said constantly throughout my time
as Premier, but particularly over the last
couple of months, that we need to make sure we keep strong relationships with our trading partners so that as we emerge from this, the half a million or so Western
Australian jobs that depend upon international trade are there at the end of
it. I think that is a very important point. It was, of course, the Western Australian government that ensured that
our mining industry stayed open during the COVID-19 crisis. There were
significant calls nationally for the mining industry and other industries in
our state to close. We said no to that. The mining industry—the biggest
industry and export earner in the country—was kept open because of the
steps taken by the Western Australian government to protect and defend it, and come up with new ways
for it to operate. We continue to ensure that that is the case and that we have
strong relationships with our trading partners. If we do not have strong
relationships with our trading partners, we will potentially damage Western Australian
jobs and lose market share to other countries around the world and the
opportunity to rebuild the economy.
tariff on Australian malting barley from Chinese customers on Sunday afternoon
when the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Hon Alannah MacTiernan, told me
about it. We had a discussion about the issue, and I requested that she get in
contact with the Chinese consul and also take up the case with the commonwealth
government on behalf of Western Australian farmers and industry. I understand
that she has done that. She has been in contact with both levels, both Minister
Birmingham and the Chinese Consulate. I have been in contact with the Prime
Minister about the issue, to offer the Western Australian government's
support for any national efforts to support our primary producers with our
largest marketplace. I made that approach to the Prime Minister to offer
whatever help the Western Australian government can provide to support our
producers with our Chinese customers.
I think this brings into focus a bigger
issue; that is, as we emerge from COVID-19, we need to
keep our traditional trading relationships strong with all our trading
partners. Western Australia is, more than any other state in the country, a trading
state. Most of our economy is based upon the things we sell overseas. Our GDP
per person is about half as much again as the national average. It is half as
much again because we are such a productive state. Our industries rely upon the
places we trade with, and that is why I have said constantly throughout my time
as Premier, but particularly over the last
couple of months, that we need to make sure we keep strong relationships with our trading partners so that as we emerge from this, the half a million or so Western
Australian jobs that depend upon international trade are there at the end of
it. I think that is a very important point. It was, of course, the Western Australian government that ensured that
our mining industry stayed open during the COVID-19 crisis. There were
significant calls nationally for the mining industry and other industries in
our state to close. We said no to that. The mining industry—the biggest
industry and export earner in the country—was kept open because of the
steps taken by the Western Australian government to protect and defend it, and come up with new ways
for it to operate. We continue to ensure that that is the case and that we have
strong relationships with our trading partners. If we do not have strong
relationships with our trading partners, we will potentially damage Western Australian
jobs and lose market share to other countries around the world and the
opportunity to rebuild the economy.
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