Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2025-2026
Ms SWANSON (Paterson) (12:58): We're here talking about agricultural sector in Australia, a sector that truly is the backbone not only of our economy but many of our regional and remote communities. It's great to have the minister in the chamber, and I want to commend her on the work she's done since taking up the portfolio. We set ourselves a bold target a few years ago to grow the value of our farm production to $100 billion by 2030.
Today I'm proud to say that we're closer to reaching this than ever before. In fact recent forecasts from the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences show that this financial year the value of what our farmers produce is expected to reach $95 billion. Congratulations to them.
That's a huge leap forward and proof that the hard work of our farmers, supported by sensible government, is paying off. This success didn't happen by chance. It's the result of genuine partnership between an agricultural sector that continues to deliver exceptional results and a government that listens and delivers.
Our farmers, fishers and foresters are amongst the most productive in the world, and we stand behind them all the way. We've been opening up new markets overseas and making sure our trade relationships are stronger and more diverse than ever. I was talking to the minister moments ago about the incredible comprehensive economic partnership agreement with the United Arab Emirates that has just been delivered.
In the first 12 months, that partnership agreement, also known as a free trade agreement, is going to deliver $50 million in savings to our agricultural sector and close down some trade barriers. It's not just about being able to ship out the goods and the incredible produce that we have; it's about some of the trade barriers, some of the technical things and the measures that get in the way.
We have been able to deal with those as well, and that's an important thing. Those barriers are sometimes a bit difficult to work out, but, when you crack that nut, it's a sweet nut indeed, and we've done that. We've also focused on growing the agricultural workforce, helping farmers build resilience against climate change, and supporting the research and innovation needed to keep our industry competitive and biosecure.
This year our agricultural exports are expected to hit around $75 billion, which will be the third highest on record. What's more, our export markets are now more varied than ever before, which helps protect us from the ups and downs of the global economy. Farmers know this better than anyone.
They face not only the ups and downs of weather and climate and local and domestic economies but also that ever-present global economy fluctuation. When we came into government, we faced $20 billion worth of barriers that were holding back trade, including stalled access to key markets. But, since then, we've opened the doors to new opportunities in more than 230 cases, whether that's Australian honey now heading to Vietnam, better access for our table grapes in Japan, crayfish going into China or queen bees being exported to Canada.
These are really important developments, and each of these achievements translates into real income, real money, for our farmers; more secure jobs in rural and regional communities; and a stronger Australian economy. We know that our world-class biosecurity system is the major reason why our trading partners trust us. They know that we care about the detail and we're serious about implementation.
That's why we've committed more than $2 billion to keep strengthening our biosecurity defences. This is serious. It's a long-term investment, and we protect our nation with it.
While these numbers are exciting, we understand that not every farmer's story is the same, and that's why we continue to work closely with state governments to make sure that support reaches those who need it most. I know that in this Chamber today there are members who have faced extraordinary weather events in recent months. I'm also a part of that.
We've had farmers in my electorate who have been flooded out. I know the member for Gilmore has spoken about her electorate's experiences, and I know the member for Lyne will talk about the terrible experiences just north of my electorate. To all those farmers: like you do every day, keep on keeping on, and we'll be with you every step of the way.