Macindoe Tim: Tariff (Malaysia Free Trade Agreement) Amendment Bill — Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
Macindoe Tim: Tariff (Malaysia Free Trade Agreement) Amendment Bill — Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
[Volume:664;Page:12124] 
TIM MACINDOE (National—Hamilton West) 
: 
 About half an hour ago speaking more in sorrow than in anger—I think those were his words—our Green Party colleague Dr Kennedy Graham invited me to dispel his and the Green Party’s fears over free-trade agreements. I suspect that the huge number of Green Party members and supporters in the Chamber and the gallery at this moment and the thousands more glued to their broadcasts on TV and radio at home as I rise to take this call on the Tariff (Malaysia Free Trade Agreement) Amendment Bill are sadly probably fairly unshakeable on this topic. Nevertheless I will have a go; the challenge was extended so earnestly and so thoughtfully in the best inter-party spirit of neo-liberal orthodoxies and I do appreciate it. 
Perhaps the first topic I could explore that might appeal to my Green Party friends and supporters at home in Hamilton West is the environmental aspect. This agreement that we are steering into the statute book is Malaysia’s first bilateral treaty on environmental cooperation to be negotiated in the context of a free-trade agreement. 
Dr Cam Calder 
: The first? 
TIM MACINDOE 
: The first I tell Dr Calder. It establishes a set of shared trade and environmental principles to promote sound environmental practices and sustainable development. That is surely worth a celebratory bowl of lentil soup and a burst of morris dancing at the next Green Party regional conference. 
Another aspect that may see the Greens treat themselves to an extra pumpkin and herb muffin is the continuing appeal of New Zealand’s education system to Malaysians. The strengthening economic and cultural ties reflected by this agreement stand to get a further boost and are very significant especially at a tertiary level. I am sure that will appeal to the previous Labour speaker Grant Robertson who is the new spokesperson on tertiary education and who is I understand especially excited and inspired by events unfolding across the Tasman as we speak this morning. It is worth noting that between 2003 and 2008 the number of fee-paying Malaysian students in New Zealand increased by more than 70 percent. 
Hon Member 
: What percent? 
TIM MACINDOE 
: More than 70 percent; it is a popular statistic this morning. That made Malaysian students New Zealand’s third-largest source of international fee-paying students. It is worth noting also that international full fee-paying students are worth over $2 billion a year to our economy. 
The final point I make is just very quickly to reiterate the benefits of that to some of our major exporters. The Malaysia free-trade agreement eliminates Malaysian tariffs on 99.5 percent of New Zealand exports within 7 years of the agreement’s entry into force. Specifically—just looking say at the kiwifruit industry—this means that exports that currently incur a 15 percent tariff from Malaysia will become duty-free by 2012; based on the latest figures New Zealand’s exports to Malaysia have grown already by 173 percent since 2007. There are great benefits for the milk industry as well. 
There we have it; I do not have a lot of time. Those are three great benefits. This agreement is another great step forward from a great Government. It is enough to make Dr Graham and his supporters green with envy.