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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-11-02 Daily Xml
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Australia-China Trade Relations

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL (Mawson) (14:32): My question is to the Premier: can the Premier inform the house about any updates regarding the trade relationship between Australia and China?

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Premier) (14:32): I thank the member for Mawson for his question. The member for Mawson is probably one of the most powerful advocates in this state for the wine industry broadly. I would like to acknowledge his contribution, particularly when it comes to advocacy for the region in the McLaren Vale.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Chaffey!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: I recently had the opportunity, as the parliament is aware, to travel to China with a very significant trade delegation made up in no small part with members of the wine industry, many of whom the member for Mawson is well familiar with. We had a very explicit objective as a delegation in China, and that was to assist in any possible movement on behalf of the People's Republic of China regarding their punitive tariffs they have imposed upon not just the wine industry but also the seafood industry here in South Australia.

These tariffs have a firsthand, very substantial impact on a range of businesses in our state and also on families—families who are dependent upon the viticulture sector to derive their incomes. The member for Chaffey, along with the member for MacKillop and the member for Schubert, will be well aware of just how significant an impact these punitive tariffs have had. This season, in particular—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: This season in particular still prospects to be quite a challenging one.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: What our country needs, and indeed what grapegrowers and wine producers around our state need, along with the seafood industry, is a mature, serious government at the helm in Canberra who is actually capable of advocating for a diplomatic position that advances the nation's interest in a principled way. What is always concerning is where we see politicians seeking to advance their domestic political interests ahead of the national interest—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: —and the consequences of that—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Morphett, order!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: The consequences of that are real and consequential for the people it affects. I am very pleased to report to the house, as has been known in the media for a couple of weeks, that the People's Republic of China have now agreed to review the punitive tariffs they have imposed upon the wine industry in our state. That will be a five-month review. We, of course, would have liked that to be more swift, but it will be a five-month review ahead of the possible reduction in those tariffs, which will be very welcome for the people it affects. The first reports of any such manoeuvre came the day that our trade delegation left China, when it was reported in Chinese state media—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: —and then it followed in The Australian that the Chinese wanted a package deal—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Colton, order! Member for Chaffey!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: The Chinese wanted a package deal, which now looks as though—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Morphett is warned!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: —it was a precursor to a further announcement regarding the reduction—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Badcoe!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: of punitive wine tariffs.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Colton!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: So on this side of the house, we accept these responsibilities. We are very happy with the progress and we want to see more to come.

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