Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee, , 9:14:28 to 9:19:29
Concerns regarding geographical indicators, compliance costs, and tariff rate quotas for the dairy industry within the EU Free Trade Agreement negotiations.
Topics: EU free trade agreement, Trade policy, Exports
Speakers: Speaker 5, Speaker 19, Speaker 1, Speaker 3, Uh The
>> A few questions. We'll definitely wrap up before 6:30 and I think this might be it. I don't want to jinx it, but uh look, I just quickly wanted to raise a issue of well actually is just make sure this is an outcome one. I've got a question about um uh protocols for uh export breeder cattle to PNG. Is that >> the right outcome? >> This is the right outcome. Okay, great. So, I wrote to the minister in November.
>> Oh, sorry. I'm I've misled you. It's
outcome too. I apologize. >> It is out. Okay. Sorry, I wasn't sure. It's always a bit confusing. We'll come back to that one. Uh I have a question about um uh the EU free trade agreement and dairy in particular. I believe uh the Australian Dairy Industry Council has has written to Minister Collins. Um the letter I've got here is dated 18th of December. Uh this letter raises serious concerns about the potential for the free trade agreement to impose a costly uh costly compliance costs on our industry particularly in regards to geographical indicators. Has the minister met with the Australian Dairy Council about these concerns?
>> Uh Senator, thanks for your question. Um aware of that letter. Uh I believe it's a joint letter to both Minister Collins and Minister Farrell. uh and we've worked closely with our Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade colleagues on a draft response for that and I can chase up the exact status of the
>> I believe they've asked to meet the minister though have has the minister met with the dairy industry council >> uh >> since the letter since the letter
>> I don't believe so on the EUTA uh but I have to take that on notice of the
specifics >> are there any plans to organize a meeting with the dairy industry council >> again we'll just have to check with the office uh >> you haven't have you did you say you did meet with dairy secretary >> with dairy producers processes. Yeah, this particular this particular body
>> uh council. Okay, >> Senator Canavan, I'm advised that her office has met with them.
>> Her office has met with since the letter. >> Okay. >> Yes. Sorry. >> Yeah. Yep. That would be great for Hansard. Thanks. Uh all right. Um so, uh has what's the minister of minister's office department doing in response to these concerns raised by the dairy
industry council? Uh Senator, as per my previous um evidence, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade uh lead on the negotiation of all free trade agreements, including the EU free trade agreement. Upon receipt of that letter, we immediately reached out to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Had discussions about industry's concerns um and that's how the process to kick off uh the draft departmental response uh started. uh noting that um uh noting that we've received uh uh correspondence from uh various people on the EUA and that's our general and standard process to make sure that those are immediately brought to the attention of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade who lead those negotiations.
>> Okay. Um uh I just also uh apparently well according to the dairy council the tariff rate quotas that have been proposed at the moment are actually uh uh below those offered to Canada and New Zealand. Is that correct?
>> Uh that would be a question best directed to Department of Foreign
Affairs and Trade. >> Okay. All right. Um just moving on. I'm just going back to a question from last estimates. Uh question 454. Uh this is in regards to implementing recommendations from the Australian National Audit Office in regards to the inspector general of biocurity. Uh in particular whether the costs of um uh the uh changes to biocurity are going to be cost recovered. the the question um said or the answer I should say said from you that these activities are already covered under the department's cost recovery framework through levies including program management and administration. So can you just clarify that the costs of responding to the Australian national audit office report on the inspector general of biocurity will be cost
recovered to the industry. >> Sorry Senator that is an outcome to um question so as well apologies. Yep. Bio security related uh ones are all outcome
too. >> Okay. All right. Um uh sorry, >> did someone say something? >> Oh, okay. Right. I thought someone wanted to say something. Well, uh with that we've got a few to ask on outcome two, but chair I'm done and recommending an early dinner in your
>> Thank you, Senator Kavan. All right, that's the end for outcome one. Thank you. will have outcome two and we we will recommence at 7:20 p.m. >> Thank you.