Mr HIGGINS - 2014-11-25
Can you update the House on recent developments across your portfolio that will boost Territory exports?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Daly for his question. He is a strong advocate for the primary industry sector across the Northern Territory, and I enjoy his support, as does the industry. I join in the Chief Minister’s call to congratulate our Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, and Chinese President Xi Jinping on reaching an historic free trade agreement which was recently signed between our two countries. This is an historic step in advancing opportunities for Australia and the Territory’s agriculture, food, fisheries, forestry, mining and energy sectors.
I point out that our major competitors, like the United States and the European Union, do not have free trade agreements with China. This free trade agreement gives Australia and the Territory a massive advantage in selling our products to the world’s largest economy. Currently Australia exports approximately $9bn worth of agricultural products to China with tariffs of up to 30%. The Territory’s share of that is relatively minor, but I assure you my aim is to grow that.
However, this agreement will eliminate tariffs on many key products, mostly within four to eight years, including beef, hides and skin, livestock and seafood, and there are also notable improvements for horticulture. These are areas of development for the Northern Territory economy. The beef trade to China may take a while to be fully established, but when it is it has the potential to be extremely lucrative for our pastoral industry. Furthermore, in regard to horticulture, the free trade agreement with China is a boost for Ti Tree’s mango winemaker.
The federal government says Australian mango wine exporters currently face a Chinese import tariff of up to 40%. Following the signing of the FTA with China, Australian mango winemakers will see tariffs disappear over four years, which is fantastic news for that small Territory industry. This means costs can come down and more products can be sold.
While I am talking about mangos, I advise the House that it was great to have the federal Minister for Agriculture in the Territory last week. Together we unveiled the mango industry export plan, which will see mango exports increase by 100% over the next three years. Australia currently exports between 4000 and 5000 tonnes of mangoes. Under the new export plan this will increase to between 8000 and 10 000 tonnes by the 2016-17 mango season.
This free trade agreement between Australia and China is not only historic, it will bring with it for years to come significant benefits to the Northern Territory’s agricultural sector. While this government has the reins, we will work to make sure our agricultural industries benefit as much as they can ...
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Daly for his question. He is a strong advocate for the primary industry sector across the Northern Territory, and I enjoy his support, as does the industry. I join in the Chief Minister’s call to congratulate our Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, and Chinese President Xi Jinping on reaching an historic free trade agreement which was recently signed between our two countries. This is an historic step in advancing opportunities for Australia and the Territory’s agriculture, food, fisheries, forestry, mining and energy sectors.
I point out that our major competitors, like the United States and the European Union, do not have free trade agreements with China. This free trade agreement gives Australia and the Territory a massive advantage in selling our products to the world’s largest economy. Currently Australia exports approximately $9bn worth of agricultural products to China with tariffs of up to 30%. The Territory’s share of that is relatively minor, but I assure you my aim is to grow that.
However, this agreement will eliminate tariffs on many key products, mostly within four to eight years, including beef, hides and skin, livestock and seafood, and there are also notable improvements for horticulture. These are areas of development for the Northern Territory economy. The beef trade to China may take a while to be fully established, but when it is it has the potential to be extremely lucrative for our pastoral industry. Furthermore, in regard to horticulture, the free trade agreement with China is a boost for Ti Tree’s mango winemaker.
The federal government says Australian mango wine exporters currently face a Chinese import tariff of up to 40%. Following the signing of the FTA with China, Australian mango winemakers will see tariffs disappear over four years, which is fantastic news for that small Territory industry. This means costs can come down and more products can be sold.
While I am talking about mangos, I advise the House that it was great to have the federal Minister for Agriculture in the Territory last week. Together we unveiled the mango industry export plan, which will see mango exports increase by 100% over the next three years. Australia currently exports between 4000 and 5000 tonnes of mangoes. Under the new export plan this will increase to between 8000 and 10 000 tonnes by the 2016-17 mango season.
This free trade agreement between Australia and China is not only historic, it will bring with it for years to come significant benefits to the Northern Territory’s agricultural sector. While this government has the reins, we will work to make sure our agricultural industries benefit as much as they can ...
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016