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MARY GEARIN: Now for more on this, the Federal Trade Minister, Simon Crean has joined us in the studio. Clearly, we'll be talking with you about ASEAN trade that's just come into play, but thank you for joining us this morning in any case.

SIMON CREAN: My pleasure.

MARY GEARIN: With your hat on as Acting Foreign Affairs Minister. This morning we've heard reports from New Delhi that Nitin Garg's family said that Australian officials were very slow to get in touch with them. In fact, they had to hear about his death from his house mates. What would you have to say about how Australian officials have acted in this?

SIMON CREAN: Well, first of all, my deepest sympathy for the family. It's a shocking circumstance to be told of this in whatever circumstances, when you've lost a son. But as I understand it, normal protocols were followed in terms of us advising on Sunday morning Indian officials. The Indian officials then contacted the family. So, my sympathies go to the family. Apologies not only for the shocking circumstances, but if there's been any added grief for the delay, they too are made, but we genuinely have tried to follow appropriate protocols and we are trying to repatriate the body as quickly as possible.

JOE O’BRIEN: Are you adamant that at this stage there is no evidence that there was a racial element to this attack.

SIMON CREAN: That's what the Victorian Police tell us. There is no evidence of any racial basis for the attack. It's interesting too that one of the friends of the victim has also said he doesn't think it's racially motivated. Now, I don't think it helps to speculate on the circumstances. It's distressing enough. What we have to do is to let the investigations take their course, but certainly on the basis of what we're being told so far, by the Victorian authorities, there's no basis for a racial motivation behind this.

MARY GEARIN: Well, well away from the investigation you've got the media response, and the media response in India. Clearly, there, it's been a massive fallout there, and in fact, although the Indian minister has said that there won't be immediate sanctions, he's also said that the Australian Government has got to do something.

SIMON CREAN: Well, we accept that the Australian Government has to take responsibility together with those that are actually responsible for law enforcement which are law enforcement authorities within the states and State Government responsibility. But we have been very conscious of the issues attaching to Indian students. That's why we've set up a task force last year. It's a task force that continues to work. That task force has seen added powers being given to the Victorian police authorities to investigate in trouble spots. But I think that the important thing here is to not rush to judgement, to understand that this is a terrible stabbing. It's not the only stabbing that's happened in Melbourne. You've been reporting it over the Christmas period. There have been a spate of stabbings. Interestingly, Melbourne, Australia has one of the lowest crime rates in the world. It's not the only place that deaths happen. They happen in India. They happen in Mumbai. They happen in Delhi. It's an unfortunate fact of life, but so far as the victim is concerned and his parents, our deepest sympathy for them and we're doing everything we can to track down the perpetrators.

JOE O’BRIEN: Just finally on this issue, have Indian diplomats sought a meeting with anyone in your department and will that happen today?

SIMON CREAN: Talking with the department this morning, they have not sought such a meeting. I've read reports that they have or will, but we're more than happy to meet with them to go through it, but the Indian authorities were advised here in Melbourne on Sunday morning of this tragedy.

MARY GEARIN: Now speaking as Trade Minister - Trade Minister, can you explain what the new ASEAN deal actually does cover?

SIMON CREAN: It covers 10 countries within the ASEAN region, which is the fastest growing region in the world. Already two-way trade with ASEAN is over $80 billion. That's before the free trade agreement comes into place. So, the potential for significant new export opportunities is enormous. It's a comprehensive agreement. It covers not just agricultural produce, as important as that is, but also manufactured goods, cheese products for example, big opportunity for our dairy industry. It covers big reductions in aluminium based products and, significantly, it also dresses a lot of the behind the border issues when it comes to services. It's the most comprehensive free trade agreement that ASEAN has ever signed and it comes at a time in which not only has Australia weathered the economic storm far better than anyone else, but in which there are really strong, positive signs of growth within the ASEAN region.

JOE O’BRIEN: So, give us some examples of how trade barriers will fall from today, in terms of - you mentioned the dairy industry. How easier will it be for the dairy industry to get access to these ASEAN markets from today?

SIMON CREAN: Well, take Malaysia, for example, where there have been tariff barriers on dairy products between 10 and 25 per cent. The 10 per cents are eliminated immediately. And there is a phase down in terms of other countries. So, already those exporters of dairy products will find it cheaper to get their product into those countries. The barrier that restricts entry, which is a higher price, an impost, a tax if you like, that is eliminated.

JOE O’BRIEN: Do you know of any deals that have already been signed to take advantage of that easier access?

SIMON CREAN: Well, the very fact that people are in those markets now, but having difficulty getting penetration because of the price premium - they're already in there, what it really means is that as of now, they can get their product in easier, and this is the case that we've been trying to pursue aggressively within this fast growing region of the world. But I think the importance of it is, that for all of those exporters looking for the opportunities going forward, they should contact Austrade. They should get an identification of when their sector's tariff barrier comes down in which country and determine their own strategy. But already, over 40 per cent of our exporters sell into these markets and they've been having to try and get into those markets with high tariff barriers. Those tariff barriers will now be progressively eliminated.

MARY GEARIN: And clearly the counterpoint is that there could be - there's a fear that there are going to be - there's going to a flood of cheap imports. Why wouldn't that happen with this deal?

SIMON CREAN: Well, if - it's a two-way exercise. But take dairy products for example. We don't have tariff on cheese in Australia. So, there's no added incentive for countries seeking - not that they produce the product to get here in any event.

MARY GEARIN: But with other goods that offer...

SIMON CREAN: …But for consumers it is a good thing, isn't it? If they can get cheaper product, and it's also good for businesses if they can get cheaper component which they can add value to and re-export. Like the automotive industry.

MARY GEARIN: Will there be some industries that will suffer because of this? That might have to close, or adapt and become other industries, if you like, that don't actually rely on competing with low wages from Asia.

SIMON CREAN: No, I think that overwhelmingly, this will be to the advantage of Australian industry. Getting new and better market access into these economies, and at a time in which these economies are not just growing, but in which there is developing more disposable income as a result of their stronger economic growth. It's to our advantage that we engage much better with these economies. If you think about it, the population in the countries involved is 600 million people and the combined GDP is over US$3 trillion. The potential for us is huge and I think that the real opportunity going forward is, understand the potential here, take advantage of it. That's my very strong message to Australian exporters and Austrade is there to help them get into those markets. We've opened the doors, what we need to do is to help people go and knock on a few of them.

MARY GEARIN: Simon Crean, thank you very much for joining us.

SIMON CREAN: My pleasure.

JOE O’BRIEN: Cheers.

Media inquiries

• Mr Crean’s Office: (02) 6277 7420
• Departmental Media Liason: (02) 6261 1555