Interview with Kieran Gilbert, Sky News

E&OE TRANSCRIPT
TELEVISION INTERVIEW
SKY NEWS NEWSDAY
THURSDAY, 2 OCTOBER 2025

SUBJECTS: Australia-United Arab Emirates Free Trade Agreement; National Bioenergy Feedstock Strategy; Middle East conflict.

KIERAN GILBERT, HOST: Welcome back to the program. Let's go live to the Royal Melbourne Show. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister, Julie Collins, joins us. This week, we had the Free Trade Agreement come into effect in the UAE. How much scope is there for our farmers in terms of exports?

JULIE COLLINS, MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FORESTRY: Thank you, Kieran. This came into effect on the 1st of October, and this provides more opportunities for Australian producers and farmers. You know, from our red meat industry to some of our grains and dairy, right across the board, this is a reduction in tariffs for some products and abolishment of tariffs for others. And this is worth about $50 million per annum for the Australian agriculture sector, based on current volumes, but importantly, it provides more opportunity for Australian producers to send more to the UAE.

GILBERT: Indeed. I know today you've also announced a new bioenergy feedstock strategy. Can you give us a sense what this is about? I know it's been a big part of energy production internationally for a long time, internationally. What are we doing about it now?

COLLINS: Well, what we want to do is develop a feedstock strategy for biofuels more broadly, here in Australia. We do have opportunities when it comes to low-carbon liquid fuels that Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen and the Treasurer talked about in terms of our $1 billion investment. But this is really about making sure that we continue to produce food and fibre for Australians and for our markets, but that we add to that with having a biofuels feedstock strategy so that Australian farmers and producers and our regional communities can get the opportunities from that. To give you an example, at the moment, for instance, we send canola across to Europe and they turn that into biodiesel. So, we want to do more of that here in Australia and use our great Australian produce to produce low-carbon liquid fuels and other bioenergy options here in Australia.

GILBERT: Essentially, things that would otherwise go to waste. Is that what we're talking about?

COLLINS: Well, it could be. It could be used cooking oils, it could be things that might go to waste, or it might be, in fact, using grains such as canola or such as sugar cane and other things and actually turning them into bioenergy. So, it's about making sure that we have a feedstock strategy for that. So, what we've done today is we've published a discussion paper on my Department's website and we're seeking feedback from stakeholders, industry and others that might be in that supply chain up until the 7th of November.

GILBERT: Okay. Well, we do have lots of farmers who are watching, so we appreciate your heads-up on that. I want to ask you about a couple of other news of the day stories. The Palestinian action group planning a protest on the Opera House on October 12th. Is that provocative? Do you see it as inappropriate given the timing of it?

COLLINS: Well, obviously, I understand that the New South Wales Government and particularly New South Wales police are doing an assessment of this protest, and I'm sure that they'll work through that in the usual and appropriate way and make some decisions about that. More broadly, of course, Australians do have a right to protest and to protest in a peaceful and respectful manner.

GILBERT: Yeah, well, I guess that was the thing on October 10th after the original atrocity, that it wasn't very respectful. That's why a lot of people see this as inappropriate. Now, can you understand why many in the Jewish community would be of that view?

COLLINS: Well, I can understand that people have concerns, but as I said, I'm aware that the New South Wales Police Department are making an assessment of the request for the protest, and they should do that in their usual thorough manner.

GILBERT: Thank you for joining us from the Royal Melbourne show today. Appreciate it. With the company that you've got there as well. Behind you. Thank you for making the time.

COLLINS: That’s prized cows right behind me. Yes, thank you. Terrific. Thanks Kieran.

GILBERT: I can see the ribbon. Yeah, Julie Collins, thank you, Agriculture Minister. Talk to you soon.