QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Mr MARLES (Corio—Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence) (14:34): I thank the member for his question and acknowledge his large contribution to both defence and veterans policy. In March of this year, along with the Foreign minister, I signed the Australia-EU security and defence partnership with the EU high representative and vice-president Kaja Kallas.

This landmark partnership is a recognition of the growing strategic importance of Europe to Australia. That growing strategic importance is echoed by a growing economic importance which, after literally years of effort, has seen the realisation of a dream: earlier this year, the conclusion of negotiations for an EU-Australia free trade agreement. This will open up for our country one of the largest economies in the world, worth $33 trillion; a market of 450 million people; and access to 27 different countries.

This agreement will provide for almost 98 per cent of our exports to Europe being duty free. That is great news for our farmers, for our manufacturers, for those tech companies and for those in the services economy. It will see an increase of thousands of jobs right around Australia, and it is being wholeheartedly welcomed by Australia's business community.

But what now stands in the way is what we see swirling on the opposition benches, as we watch all of them go through a torturous existential identity crisis: a contest between whether they seek to remain a party of government or whether they all slowly but surely crabwalk over to that part of the chamber to kiss the ring of the member for New England. To be sure, those opposite used to have clear perspectives on these issues.

They used to speak with a clear voice. To give just one example, 'Since John Macarthur put his first bail of merino wool on a ship to England, we'— Opposition members interjecting— Mr MARLES: I will continue reading the quote. Since John Macarthur put his first bale of merino wool on a ship to England, we have depended upon trade, foreign investment, immigration and innovation.

More than ever our future prosperity will stand on these four pillars. These are words with which we agree—words that were spoken by the Leader of the Opposition. So the question is very clear: will he pursue his own beliefs, or will he lead his party down the path of the folly of protectionism?

The question is very clear. Where does this man stand? (Time expired)