Dean Jacqui: ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area Bill — In Committee 
Dean Jacqui: ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:655;Page:4677] 
JACQUI DEAN (National—Waitaki) 
: 
 I rise to speak to the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area Bill a good bill because it fits very well with this Government’s agenda of having a focus on growth and trade. The bill will enable two-way trade between New Zealand and ASEAN countries. This is good news particularly for our agricultural exporters. The whole-of-Government approach is also good news. This approach is focused on productivity and growth and it has turned attention to the provisions and requirements that the enactment of this legislation will have on various entities. 
Firstly I want to talk about New Zealand Trade and Enterprise. Minister Groser indicated to the Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Committee that New Zealand Trade and Enterprise would have a strong focus on enabling trade between New Zealand and its free-trade partners. Most pertinent to that is the legislation before us today but it also pertains to our free-trade agreement with China. New Zealand Trade and Enterprise will be tasked to enable trade and that is good news. 
I also turn my attention to the New Zealand Customs Service. The excellent honourable member Maurice Williamson appeared before the select committee this morning and indicated that there would be a strong focus on behalf of the New Zealand Customs Service on implementing the provisions of this bill. It is all very well for Parliament to consider this legislation and put it into force and excellent work has gone on behind the scenes for many years to bring this legislation to the House but it is what happens next that is most important. It is very encouraging that submissions in support of the legislation were brought to the select committee from organisations such as Fonterra the chambers of commerce the Seafood Industry Council and other industry groups. 
Part 1 of the bill amends the Tariff Act 1988. Those amendments were necessary to bring the Tariff Act up to date to meet the requirements of this legislation. The amendments to the Tariff Act enable the application of preferential tariff rates under the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area and the application of transitional safeguard measures where appropriate. That is most important and the select committee gave it good consideration. The application of transitional safeguard measures where they are appropriate—they are not always appropriate but in some industries and sectors they are—are on imports originating from ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area party countries. Of course this free-trade agreement is a two-way arrangement. It deals not only with exports from New Zealand and on behalf of exporters but also with imports into New Zealand. That being the case with tariffs being reduced it is considered vital that there are transitional safeguard measures to protect New Zealand manufacturers and producers where it is deemed necessary. Part 1 also adds definitions to the Tariff Act relating to the agreement including a definition of a specified ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area party. It is a lot of words but this legislation will have far-reaching benefits for New Zealand and in particular for the primary production sector which is under some pressure in the current economic conditions. Thank you Mr Chairman.