Rock Lobster Fishing Industry

Wednesday May 01, 2024

Mr BELL (Mount Gambier) (14:39): My question is to the Minister for Investment and Trade. Given the lifting of barley and wine tariffs with China, can the minister update my community regarding any trade progressions regarding rock lobsters?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS (Cheltenham—Minister for Trade and Investment, Minister for Veterans Affairs, Minister for Local Government) (14:40): I thank the member for his question and particularly for his advocacy on behalf of his local community for the particularly strong workforce which primary production, particularly within aquaculture, supports. The member has already taken the opportunity to speak with me and to advocate directly to me on behalf of his community, particularly in respect to what our state and I trust the entire nation are most keen and eager to see which is the continuing progression of the relaxation and return to normal relations when it comes to our mutual relationship with China when it comes to trade and export.

It is important to note that the very important rock lobster industry in South Australia has been subject not to tariffs but to bans that have precluded them from their major export market in China. On behalf of all those on this side and I trust all South Australians I can say that we are most fortunate to be seeing the fruits of the efforts of the federal government, particularly led by the federal Minister for Trade, Senator the Hon. Don Farrell, and his efforts to not only lead with the effort required but also to lead with the nuance required.

This is all about jobs. It is all about good jobs. It is all about the economic impact that this has had in a large part in regional communities just like the member for Mount Gambier's. Members would have hopefully seen the positive reports being published today by the paper that have been much discussed over the last two days and some very positive comments from Senator Farrell.

I think it is fair to say that we would like to see an improvement on these exports as soon as possible. We have seen significant improvements, particularly in other areas like wine, and all members of this place would be well aware of the efforts of both the commonwealth and state governments in supporting our wine industry to bounce back and get back to where they were prior to these impacts on their industry.

The reality is that the rock lobster industry has been lagging. There remains work to be done, but I can advise the member for Mount Gambier that I am most optimistic with the leadership being provided from the commonwealth as well as from important state actors that we will be seeing a bounce back in that important industry that he advocates for in the near future.

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