Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee [Part 2], , 14:24 to 19:40
A debate ensues regarding the confidentiality of Australia's negotiating bottom lines while Minister Farrell meets with EU counterparts in Brussels. Officials reiterate they will not accept a 'bad deal'.
Topics: Trade policy, EU free trade agreement
Speakers: Sarah Henderson, Speaker 4, Mr. Lachlan Crews, Mr. Ravi Kewalram, Raff Ciccone, Senator Raff Ciccone, Senator Sarah Henderson
as you say, two years ago, the deal failed because the EU did not meet our expectations in terms of agricultural market access. Um, and again, we have expectations and if they are not met in the negotiations, uh, we will walk away rather than do a bad deal. >> What's the time frame? Could you give me an update on that? Uh so the minister is meeting with his EU counterparts today. Uh and the next steps in the negotiations will depend on the outcomes of those meetings.
>> So no other information you can give us
on the time frame. >> Well, it it does very much depend on how how today in Brussels goes, what we do next with the EU.
>> How have you had any report back? I mean obviously it's obvious what time is it in Brussels now? It's
>> pretty early morning. >> The meetings are underway at present.
And can you help me with the time? Is it start? >> Uh, it's about >> 8:00 or something in the morning. >> Let's get our phones out. Is it 9:00
a.m. Is it >> Apple?
>> 12:00. >> What? 12:00. >> So, the meetings are underway.
>> The meetings are underway this morning. Yes.
>> And so, have you had any update? >> 9. There you go. >> 9 a.m. Any update on how things are
going so far? >> Senator, I can I've just just confirmed with the minister that he doesn't think it's a good idea for us to tell the Europeans what our negotiating position
[laughter] is. All right, I think we're ending those questions right now.
>> Well, I'm not. No, [laughter and clears throat] I've got more questions. No, no. Well, >> sorry to disappoint you, but you know. >> Well, well, Minister, I always try my best in the national interesting is that trying your best to tell them. >> Fighting hard on behalf of Australian farmers. So, just going back to the meetings underway. It's 20 9 20 nearly 25 past 9 in Brussels. How have things gone so far? Has Minister Farrell been able to text you to Let let let us know. >> No, he has not. >> I could text him directly. Actually, I might do that.
>> Call them, I guess, put it into session.
Let's see. >> But Senator, um, as we've said, this is live. Uh, it is, uh, I think as Minister Farrell has said on a number of occasions. Um, it takes as much time as it's going to take. you know, as he's been on the record, uh, we're interested in a deal which is a good deal. Um, I I think that we've probably exhausted as far as we can go on what we can say to you at this stage. A because, uh, we don't reveal negotiating bottom lines in a public forum, but B because
it is it's going on now. So can I just put to you and my concern is that we have conceded low quotas geographical indicators for no real meaningful access. Um and I am concerned that we are potentially [clears throat] allowing the EU to impose its domestic policy preferences through this agreement. Uh so can the department explain why Australia as an exporting nation would want to make any concessions? You've made it clear you don't want a bad deal which and we're in complete there's a unity ticket on that but why would you want to make any concessions that would set farmers backwards in any respect? >> No one has said that they're going to do that. >> Exactly. >> Excellent. So, is that what Minister Farrell has just texted you?
>> No, I don't need to I don't need to ask Minister Farrell to be assured that he and everyone in the Australian government is committed to getting the
best possible deal. >> So, farmers definitely won't be doubted.
>> In my opinion, that is correct. >> No one said in Farrell's record.
>> So, is there the risk that that Australia will accept a higher regulatory burden for less market
access? Senator, I think it's pretty clear from the answers you've been receiving so far that um rightly officials are not going to be providing in a public forum information about what we may or may not do in a negotiation that is literally recommencing in 10 minutes. >> Oh, so there's a morning tea break. >> I don't know, but I understand the meetings are about to resume or begin for the day. And um I I find it stunning that you continue to ask questions that would involve revealing our negotiating
position. >> Minister, I I respect the commercial and confidence nature of these negotiations. What I've asked officials for is there any information that can be shared with this committee to give farmers around this country the assurance that there will be there there is a red line. So in all seriousness, I'm I respect that
>> the officially said the officials have repeatedly said and I'm repeating that the minister and this government will not accept a bad deal for farmers or for the for Australians generally and we can't give you any more detail on that given that negotiations are underway.
>> Questions otherwise we'll have to move
the >> look I'm actually happy to move share the call um chair so thank you very