QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator FARRELL (South Australia—Minister for Trade and Tourism, Special Minister of State and Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:36): I thank Senator Ciccone for his question and the great work that he does for the people of Victoria. As he says, the EU-Australia free-trade agreement is a once-in-a-generation deal with the world's second largest economy.

The EU market is valued at more than $30 trillion, with 27 member countries and around 450 million consumers. This is a huge opportunity for Australian farmers, producers, miners, exporters, businesses and workers. For decades, Australian exporters have faced barriers into Europe that their competitors did not.

This agreement helps level that playing field. It will remove EU tariffs on a wide range of Australian agricultural products, and, for products such as beef and sheep meat, it creates commercially meaningful new access through tariff-rate quotas. That means more choice, more customers and stronger returns for Australian producers.

It means more secure, well-paid jobs in regional communities and right across the supply chains that support them in transport, in processing, in logistics and in professional services. This agreement is about backing Australian capability, opening doors for our exporters and bringing more investment into the Australian economy. The PRESIDENT: Senator Ciccone, first supplementary.