Don Farrell, Minister for Trade and Tourism: Look, can I say how disappointed we are in the decision of the United States Trade Representative to increase tariffs on some of Australia's products going into the United States. We do not believe it was justified. We believe that amongst all of the countries in the world, Australia does take the issue of modern slavery seriously, and will continue to do that. But we think, and we believe, the Albanese Government believes that this imposition of higher tariffs on Australia is completely unjustified, and we will continue to lobby the United States Trade Representative to remove all tariffs on Australian goods.
Now, there is a small paradox here that in the period since the so-called Liberation Day last year, Australian exports to the United States have increased, and we are now exporting 67% more products into the United States than before the so-called Liberation Day. But we continue to maintain that these tariffs are unjustified. Australia is a country that deals with the issue of modern slavery seriously. And from my point of view, the government's point of view, we will continue to argue very strongly for the removal of these tariffs.
We have, as a response to the original decision on Liberation Day, expanded our trade relationships. Last year, Australian trade reached a record figure, $1.32 trillion in trade. Never in the history of Australia have we done so much trade. And this government, the Albanese Government's attempt to diversify our trading relationships will continue. We've recently reached an agreement with the European Union to expand our trade relationships. That's not just one extra trade agreement. That's the equivalent of 27 new trade agreements because there are 27 countries in the European Union. And I call upon today the Coalition to commit to supporting the introduction and the approval of that trade agreement through our processes.
Journalist: Senator, one of the reasons exports increased was the comparative advantage Australia had on the tariffs. What does that look like now and how worried are you about that?
Trade Minister: I don't think that significantly has changed because some 60 other countries who we would consider to be our competitors have also been subject to this increase in tariffs. So I don't think the relative position of Australia has changed. The one thing we did do after Liberation Day was to continue to support Australian businesses to find new markets in the United States, but also new markets around the world, and we'll continue to do that. So I'm optimistic that, in the general sense, we'll continue to expand our trading relationships.
Journalist: Minister, can you confirm that the exemptions on beef are still in place. And are there any other markets where you think Australia can get an exemption, seeing as the Trump administration is willing to do deals?
Trade Minister: Look, our largest exports to the United States continue to get into the United States tariff-free. What are they? Well, it's beef, it's gold and it's copper. So one of the reasons that figure I mentioned before, the 67% increase in trade, it's been because those products, the value of those products and the volume of those products has been increasing. I don't see any reason to think that that's not going to continue. So I think we will continue to have a high volume of trade into the United States, but we're always looking for new markets. This government has diversified our trading relationship in a way that no other government has. We've got new agreements with the United Kingdom, we've got new agreements with the United Arab Emirates, we've got new agreements with India, and we're having further discussions following the visit of Prime Minister Modi to Australia. And of course we've got the EU trade agreement, which, as I said, is the equivalent of 27 new trade agreements.
Journalist: Senator Farrell, was it a bad look for Labor to be fundraising with the Lee family, considering the attention of federal authorities on their financial activities in Australia?
Trade Minister: Fundraising is a matter for the party administration.
Journalist: The Prime Minister attended a fundraiser. How is the Prime Minister attending a fundraiser a matter for the party administration?
Trade Minister: All of the issues in relation to donations are matters dealt with by the party administration.
Journalist: Is it bad look politically though?
Trade Minister: All of these things are dealt with by the party administration.
Journalist: Why are you accepting these donations?
Trade Minister: Beg your pardon?
Journalist: Should the party accept donations from the Lee family?
Trade Minister: Look, you'd have to ask the party administration about those donations.
Journalist: There's going to be a debate today around voluntary administrative dying and, sorry, I've got the VOD, and telehealth, the other power brokers in the party expected to get up. Is that your expectation and what would you like to see?
Trade Minister: I never anticipate, having been coming to these conferences for 50 years this year, I've got 50 years of membership of the Australian Labor Party come November. I never anticipate what might happen at the conference, but the issue of voluntary assisted dying is a conscience issue in the Labor Party, and the members of the Labor Party continue to be able to exercise their vote in accordance with their own conscience.