❓ The Treasurer outlines the benefits of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement for WA's economy, particularly in services and agriculture, while criticising the opposition's stance and perceived racism. The Speaker eventually calls the Treasurer to order.
AnsweredQoN 685Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CHINA–AUSTRALIA FREE TRADE AGREEMENT
685. Mr C.D. HATTON to the Treasurer:
Following the signing of the China–Australia
Free Trade Agreement earlier this year, can the Treasurer please provide an
overview of what this historic step could mean for the next phase of Western
Australia's economic relationship with China?
685. Mr C.D. HATTON to the Treasurer:
Following the signing of the China–Australia
Free Trade Agreement earlier this year, can the Treasurer please provide an
overview of what this historic step could mean for the next phase of Western
Australia's economic relationship with China?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question; it is an extremely
important one.
Over the last 10 years or more we have become inexorably
close to China; indeed, our growth over the last 10 years, which has been
phenomenal, has been based on our increasingly close relationships with China—particularly
our trade relationship. Indeed, our prosperity into the future will be
dependent upon our growth in relations with China, particularly in maintaining
our trade and exports of not only our resources and oil and gas, but also, more
importantly, services. Services make up between 70 and 80 per cent of our
economy; the export of services is responsible for only 20 per cent. China is
now going into services-led growth, and that provides a phenomenal opportunity
for us. Wise leaders 10 years ago saw that in order to facilitate that we
needed to, with China, eliminate some of the barriers to trade in services, as
well as agriculture and some resources. Therefore, a long 10-year process began
to negotiate a free trade arrangement between Australia and China. It started
under Howard, accelerated under Rudd, was maintained under Gillard, was pushed
again by Rudd and has now culminated in the Abbott government. We will be the
only G20 country to have a free trade arrangement with China.
I will give some indications. For
agriculture it will eliminate tariffs on horticulture, meat, milk, seafood,
cheese, pork and wine, as well as other things such as pharmaceutical and
medical appliances. It will cut tariffs on livestock—beef, mutton and
others—by 95 per cent. Over the life of the project going forward, it
is expected to add $50 billion to the Australian economy. It is phenomenally
important. We sit here in Western Australia on the cusp of another China-led
growth period, and the free trade arrangement is pivotal to that growth.
The biggest challenge to it is the people on the opposite
side. Despite having, under previous real leadership at a federal level,
committed to free trade and to negotiation of this agreement, they are now
trying to stop it. They are also opposing it in a way that is tinged with
racism.
Several members interjected.
Dr M.D. NAHAN :
They are now arguing that there are weaknesses in the labour arrangements.
However, those labour arrangements were put in by Brendan O'Connor, who
was the then industrial relations and employment minister. The Abbott
government has not changed a letter or a full stop. They remain there. There
have been no changes. They were okay under Labor, but now they are coming out!
But the worst thing is who is pushing this. It is the paymasters of the Labor
Party—the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union. Brendan O'Connor's
brother, Michael O'Connor, describes the relationship with China, our
major trading partners—the people on whom our future prosperity is
based—as ''Greedy bastards trying to steal Australian jobs.''
I suggest that when the Leader of the Opposition attends the seventieth anniversary
celebrations at the consul general's office next month, he apologise.
Mr
M. McGowan : How do you know I'm going?
Dr M.D. NAHAN : The
Leader of the Opposition goes to them all. He and I share many of those. He
speaks widely of our multicultural heritage and commitment positively, but when
he toes the policies of somebody such as Michael O'Connor, who calls
the Chinese greedy bastards who are trying to steal our Australian jobs, he
should apologise and change his policy. He should be embarrassed. The lot of
them should be embarrassed.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Treasurer, I call you to order for the first time. That question
is over.
Dr
M.D. Nahan interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Treasurer, I call you to order for the second time.
important one.
Over the last 10 years or more we have become inexorably
close to China; indeed, our growth over the last 10 years, which has been
phenomenal, has been based on our increasingly close relationships with China—particularly
our trade relationship. Indeed, our prosperity into the future will be
dependent upon our growth in relations with China, particularly in maintaining
our trade and exports of not only our resources and oil and gas, but also, more
importantly, services. Services make up between 70 and 80 per cent of our
economy; the export of services is responsible for only 20 per cent. China is
now going into services-led growth, and that provides a phenomenal opportunity
for us. Wise leaders 10 years ago saw that in order to facilitate that we
needed to, with China, eliminate some of the barriers to trade in services, as
well as agriculture and some resources. Therefore, a long 10-year process began
to negotiate a free trade arrangement between Australia and China. It started
under Howard, accelerated under Rudd, was maintained under Gillard, was pushed
again by Rudd and has now culminated in the Abbott government. We will be the
only G20 country to have a free trade arrangement with China.
I will give some indications. For
agriculture it will eliminate tariffs on horticulture, meat, milk, seafood,
cheese, pork and wine, as well as other things such as pharmaceutical and
medical appliances. It will cut tariffs on livestock—beef, mutton and
others—by 95 per cent. Over the life of the project going forward, it
is expected to add $50 billion to the Australian economy. It is phenomenally
important. We sit here in Western Australia on the cusp of another China-led
growth period, and the free trade arrangement is pivotal to that growth.
The biggest challenge to it is the people on the opposite
side. Despite having, under previous real leadership at a federal level,
committed to free trade and to negotiation of this agreement, they are now
trying to stop it. They are also opposing it in a way that is tinged with
racism.
Several members interjected.
Dr M.D. NAHAN :
They are now arguing that there are weaknesses in the labour arrangements.
However, those labour arrangements were put in by Brendan O'Connor, who
was the then industrial relations and employment minister. The Abbott
government has not changed a letter or a full stop. They remain there. There
have been no changes. They were okay under Labor, but now they are coming out!
But the worst thing is who is pushing this. It is the paymasters of the Labor
Party—the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union. Brendan O'Connor's
brother, Michael O'Connor, describes the relationship with China, our
major trading partners—the people on whom our future prosperity is
based—as ''Greedy bastards trying to steal Australian jobs.''
I suggest that when the Leader of the Opposition attends the seventieth anniversary
celebrations at the consul general's office next month, he apologise.
Mr
M. McGowan : How do you know I'm going?
Dr M.D. NAHAN : The
Leader of the Opposition goes to them all. He and I share many of those. He
speaks widely of our multicultural heritage and commitment positively, but when
he toes the policies of somebody such as Michael O'Connor, who calls
the Chinese greedy bastards who are trying to steal our Australian jobs, he
should apologise and change his policy. He should be embarrassed. The lot of
them should be embarrassed.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Treasurer, I call you to order for the first time. That question
is over.
Dr
M.D. Nahan interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Treasurer, I call you to order for the second time.
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