Mrs PHILLIPS (Gilmore) (17:27): I thank the fine member for Hunter for moving this motion, because as regional members we know how important our farmers are to our regions, our country and the world. On Friday, I attended the Nowra Show. It's a show I've been attending for more than 50 years. I grew up on a dairy farm, and the show has always been a big part of my life. It has been 150 years since the first Nowra show, and our farmers still come together to show their animals and produce, and provide demonstrations to keep the ag spirit alive. It's where dairy farmers, beef farmers, poultry and alpaca farmers, timber, vegetable and crop growers enter their finest. It's where high school students enter cattle and take very seriously the growing of the biggest pumpkin. It ranges from horse events to the magnificent pavilion, where cakes, artwork and flowers are all carefully created and exhibited. It's where local community organisations, schools and businesses all come together, and it's where our kids gain an insight into our proud agricultural past and future.
Over the past couple of weeks I've also been to the Berry, Kiama and Eurobodalla agricultural shows, and I'm really looking forward to the Kangaroo Valley and Milton shows. My electorate of Gilmore is proud of its agricultural heritage, and there is nothing better than seeing our community come together and have such a good time. Food is essential, and we should never take for granted how important agriculture and farming is for the existence of our families, our communities, our country and the world.
After my own, dairy farming dad passed away when I was 21, I made a promise to myself that one day I would do something to help farmers like my dad. Today I stand in this Australian parliament, proud to say I am a member of the House Standing Committee on Agriculture that has taken part in inquiries into growing Australian agriculture to $100 billion, feeding the nation and beyond. But it is since coming to government that we have made real strides to deliver for Aussie farmers and producers, helping our nearly $100 billion agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors continue to grow.
It really was a horror time under the Morrison Liberal government when international relationships became fragmented and Australia's reputation suffered as a result. I'm pleased to say that, since coming to government, the Albanese Labor government has recorded 169 market access achievements since July 2022. This is so important because Australia exports over 70 per cent of our agricultural, fisheries and forestry produce to 169 markets globally. We have restored dialogue to Australia's relationship with China and secured the removal of $20 billion of trade impediments.
Dining tables in China will now feature live Australian rock lobsters—a win for our farmers and our exporters. We see similar stories right throughout the sector, from record red-meat exports to the booming aquaculture industry. We are committed to supporting our exporters to pursue opportunities in new markets, including through building stronger economic ties with India, negotiating a free trade agreement with the United Arab Emirates, supporting greater regional trade cooperation and maximising the gains from recent free trade agreements.
There were massive issues left over by the Liberals, who ignored workforce shortages in the agriculture industry for too long. The Liberals ripped away funding from TAFE. They created a massive visa backlog and eroded worker protections. They had an ag visa, then they didn't and then they did again. But it failed to deliver a single worker to Australian farmers.
In stark contrast, we have not wasted a second in cleaning up the mess of those opposite. We established the tripartite Agricultural Workforce Working Group and stood up the agriculture labour taskforce within the department. Our free TAFE is making a difference, with over 22,100 enrolments in agriculture-related free TAFE courses from January 2023 to September 2024. Under the Albanese Labor government, the Pacific and Australian Labour Mobility scheme—or PALM scheme, as it's known—has continued to grow from around 8,000 workers in March 2020 to over 27,000 at the end of November 2024. We've funded the continuation of the AgCAREERSTART gap-year employment program for an additional two years. Our government is continuing to invest in programs that support employment, support our farmers and keep Australian agriculture strong.
