Hansard debates

Mrs McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (14:40): This motion is of significant importance, and it is quite simple, as Mr Davis has said. It reads:

That this house opposes the unjustified special tariffs imposed on Victorian barley by the Chinese Communist Party government and calls for these unjustified tariffs to be removed immediately.

It is not because its passing would magically remove these unjust tariffs or that the communist government of China would comply with the demands of the Victorian Parliament; it is important because of our farmers, and that is who we have to stand up for in this. It is important that all parliamentarians demonstrate to their constituents that they side with Victoria and our farmers and not with a dictatorial communist regime.

The culprits behind these punitive tariffs have demonstrated just how evil and reckless they are in recent months. China expelled journalists monitoring the outbreak of the virus. They lied about statistics. They kept it under wraps for months. They blamed our allies in the United States. They negligently failed to control the outbreak that ultimately left 127 000 Victorians unemployed and damaged our economy 140 times more than the bushfires. Then, when the federal Morrison government rightfully called for an international inquiry into the origins of the virus, these same culprits imposed an 80 per cent tariff on our barley farmers.

In typical Andrews fashion the Treasurer decided to parrot the Chinese Communist Party talking points and sided with China when speaking about the tariffs, saying that they were a consequence ‘of the way that the federal government have conducted themselves’. In other words, this tariff apparently had nothing to do with a belligerent communist dictatorship hell-bent on avoiding proper scrutiny over the virus that emanated from Wuhan, bringing lives to an end, putting millions on the unemployment scrap heap and leaving businesses bankrupt and national economies in generational debt. In particular, Labor MPs in Western Victoria must denounce Tim Pallas’s decision to side with the Chinese Communist Party. They must stand up for Australian barley farmers by voting for this motion.

Victorian barley production in 2019–20 was 2.5 million tonnes, with forecasts that the 2020–21 Victorian barley crop will cover 930 000 hectares. Forty-nine per cent of the nation’s barley is currently exported to China. A significant proportion of Victoria’s barley production takes place in western Victoria, predominantly in the Mallee and Wimmera regions, much of which is exported through the Geelong port.

Labor members must make it clear to their constituents whether they support the interests, like the Treasurer, of farmers or whether they support the Chinese Communist Party. Many of these members represent constituencies that are supported by Victorian barley production, which provides massive benefit to the local state and national economies. I note their federal counterpart Senator Kitching has rejected the remarks made by the Treasurer.

The Victorian Labor Party appears time and time again to back the interests of this communist regime, demonstrated in their unwavering support, against Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade protocols, for the development deal which allegedly is a $1.5 trillion Belt and Road Initiative. But if this relationship is so good between the Premier and the Chinese communist dictatorship, then Mr Andrews should surely be able to use his influence to have this 80 per cent tariff removed from our barley farmers. If he cannot do that, then what is the benefit of this relationship? Do we have to put up with those inside the tram tracks and the offices of Tiananmen Square actually saying what is going to happen to our hardworking barley farmers?

Our farmers across rural Victoria continue to feed the rest of the regions and metropolitan Melbourne despite the obstacles constantly put before them. Every day they defy the elements, fire, drought, weed and pest invasion, market vagaries, and now an 80 per cent tariff applied by the major importer of our barley. On top of that they are burdened with poor infrastructure, red and green tape, regulations that are costly and time-consuming and unproductive, and taxation by all three levels of government. Their industry is frequently called for to be ended because of those people who do not believe there should be any animal meat and fibre production as well. But here we have got a situation of barley being a wonderful plant-based diet. I am sure all those who are non-meat eaters would be appalled at the thought that we cannot be exporting our barley to all those other plant-based eaters in China. I am sure there are lots there.

Their industry is vitally important to this state, and we need to support the barley farmers and we need to use every effort possible to ensure that this tariff is removed. Farmers are the backbone of many rural communities. They are the first to put their hands up for a neighbour, close or distant, at a time of need. They deserve our backing. I am a passionate supporter of free and fair trade, and I would hope that Mr Andrews can ensure that at the first opportunity he can put into action this Belt and Road Initiative, which Ms Shing has told us is enormously successful, and have this tariff removed. Our farmers deserve our support and our backing, as do these barley farmers especially, so I have much pleasure in supporting Mr Davis’s motion.