The coalition has confirmed it will oppose the free-trade deal with the European Union, and farmers want every party in Parliament to do the same.
Australia agreed to the deal with the EU in March after eight years of negotiations. It is yet to be ratified by Parliament.
Nationals leader Matt Canavan said the coalition would oppose the accord. After days of confusion over the opposition’s official position, Liberal treasury spokesman Tim Wilson confirmed on Monday, 19 October, that the coalition was against it.
“We haven’t seen the legislation, it hasn’t gone to the parliament yet, but we’re certainly opposed to it while going through the parliamentary and coalition processes,” Mr Wilson said on ABC TV.
“The trade minister, frankly, has made a complete hash of the negotiations – his job is to advance Australia’s national interest, and we want him to do that.”
Mr Wilson urged Labor to walk away from the deal if it was not up to scratch, despite the years of effort.
“You don’t want to sell out the country and do a bad deal, you want to sign a better alternative or no deal at all,” he said.
Trade Minister Don Farrell urged the Liberals not to be overruled by the coalition’s junior partner.
“What we’re saying to (Opposition Leader Angus Taylor) is stand up to Mr Canavan on this occasion because to defeat a new free trade agreement with the Europeans would be an act of economic self harm,” Mr Farrell said.
“Don’t support Senator Canavan in going off an economic cliff.”
Under the deal, Australia would remove a five per cent tariff on imports of European products. That hits car makers such as BMW and Mercedes, along with fashion, food and drinks. Shoppers would get access to cheaper European food, wine, cars and clothes.
EU tariffs would be removed on a wide range of Australian goods, including critical minerals, manufactured items and many dairy products. Australia would be able to sell 35,000 tonnes of beef to the EU tariff-free.
Mr Farrell pointed to the deal’s offerings for Australia’s $1.5 billion-a-year seafood industry and critical minerals business, which he said could make the agreement worth $30 billion.
Domestic meat farmers and steelmakers say they have been dudded. Senator Canavan took aim at the 50 per cent levy that would remain on Australian steel heading to the EU.
“The gaslighting continues,” he said.
“The farm sector has always been a supporter of free trade, but it shows the weakness of this deal.”
The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) continues to oppose the agreement. It says the deal offers no material improvement for key agricultural commodities on the proposal the Australian Government rejected in October 2023.
The NFF says it has always supported free and fair trade, and that more agricultural trade with Europe remains in the national interest.
“The current one-sided deal would lock in decades of disadvantage, at a time when commodities like beef, dairy and sugar are already under immense pressure,” said NFF President Hamish McIntyre.
Mr McIntyre said any deal had to deliver commercially meaningful and competitive access for Australian agriculture.
“Australian farmers cannot be expected to accept subpar market access while European producers continue to benefit from billion-dollar subsidies.”
“That would be a double blow to our competitiveness.”
“We are calling on all parties to stand with Australian farmers and insist on a trade outcome that is genuinely free, fair and commercially meaningful.”
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