MOTIONS

Mr REPACHOLI (Hunter) (17:25): A bottle of Hunter Valley shiraz sitting on a table in Shanghai tells a bigger story than most people realise. Behind that bottle is a grape grower getting up before sunrise, a worker tending the vines, a family running a cellar door, a truck driver moving that product and a regional community relying on every one of those jobs.

For years, Hunter winemakers watched the important export market virtually disappear. When China removed its duties on Australian bottled wine in March 2024, the value of the Australian wine exports to that market climbed from just $13 million to more than $1 billion over the following 12 months. That didn't fix every challenge facing the industry, but it reopened the door for premium wine regions like mine in the Hunter Valley.

It showed what fair access to overseas markets can mean for real people in regional communities. That's why this debate matters. There's plenty in this motion that every member should agree with.

Australian farmers work bloody hard. They face high import and freight costs, natural disasters, changing markets and global pressures that would pretty much make plenty of people throw in the towel. Across the Hunter, dry conditions have recently forced cattle producers to make difficult decisions about feed and livestock.

Our farmers know conditions can turn quickly. They need practical support, strong biosecurity and governments that understand what's at stake. They also deserve an honest debate, and that's where this motion falls short.

The member for Kennedy wants every fresh produce import application rejected unless the other country can prove there is no biosecurity risk, no economic or social impact, no difference in environmental standards or production costs and an overriding need for the product. It might sound simple, but it isn't a serious or workable policy. There is no such thing as zero biosecurity risk.

Australians simply reduce the risk to a very low level, though, through rigorous science-based assessments and strong import conditions. Demanding proof of absolutely no risk would effectively shut down trade, including with countries that buy Australian beef, grain, wine, dairy and horticultural products. The motion also says imports should be rejected where overseas wages, working conditions or production costs differ from ours.

If every country applied that test, Australian farmers would quickly find markets closed to them. The Hunter wine experience shows exactly why this matters. When major markets close, it isn't a politician in Canberra who carries the burden.

It's the growers, the workers, the small businesses and the owners back at home. Australia exports far more agricultural produce than it imports. Our farmers depend on a fair, rules-based trading system.

We shouldn't undermine it with policy that invites retaliation against them. That doesn't mean turning a blind eye to poor labour or environmental practices. It must be addressed through enforceable labour standards, environmental laws, trade agreements and international obligations, not a blanket test that can't be applied consistently.

Our first responsibility is protecting Australia's biosecurity. One outbreak can wipe out years of hard work and devastate entire communities. That's why the Albanese Labor government has committed more than $2 billion to strengthen the system protecting our borders, farms and environments.

Import applications aren't waived through because a lobbyist asks nicely. They are assessed by qualified biosecurity experts and scientific evidence. If the risk can't be managed to Australia's strict standards, it's simple: the product doesn't come in.

That's how the system should work. Since July 2022, the government has also secured hundreds of market access outcomes for Australian agriculture. That means more opportunities for Hunter wine, beef, dairy and other products and more regional jobs.

The value of Australian agricultural production reached an estimated $101 billion in 2025. That represents family businesses, regional employment and income that keeps local shops open and sporting clubs going. Food security requires long-term planning.

That's why the government is developing Feeding Australia, our national food security strategy. More than 400 organisations and individuals have contributed to the work. We will strengthen supply chains, lift resilience and help ensure Australia continues to have access to safe, affordable and high-quality food.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Ms Aldred ): The time allotted for this debate has expired. The debate is adjourned, and the resumption of the debate will be made an order of the day for the next sitting.