Joint media release: Aussie agriculture celebrated on the world stage

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the Hon Julie Collins MP
Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator the Hon Anthony Chisholm

Australia’s world class food and fibre is being celebrated across the country today - National Agriculture Day - with the Albanese Labor Government continuing to back our farmers and producers here at home and on the world stage.

Minister Julie Collins has represented Australia at the APEC Ministers Meeting in Lima, Peru this week, where she again advocated for Australia’s high quality and diverse agricultural industry.

Australia exports around 70 per cent of its agricultural, fisheries and forestry production to 169 global markets each year. In 2023-24 Australia recorded 88 achievements to open, improve, maintain, and restore market access, including opening 10 new markets.

In 2023-24, agriculture, fisheries and forestry exports were worth $76 billion. This is the second highest value on record and the highest for livestock and livestock products, specifically, which were worth $29 billion.

Enabling Australian farmers and producers to diversify and meet the challenges of climate change is vital for ensuring Australia remains an exporter of choice for countries around the world.

Export achievements of the Albanese Labor Government for agriculture include:

  • Entry-into-force and implementation of the Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement and the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement, delivering significant and commercially meaningful market access for agriculture. 
  • New trade deal signed with the United Arab Emirates which paves the way for the elimination of tariffs on key agricultural exports, valued at around $50 million in tariff savings a year.
  • Stabilised the relationship with our largest trading partner China, which has seen record exports in 2023-24 through the removal of tariffs on bottled wine and barley, restored access for suspended red meat establishments, restored access for logs and improved access for oaten hay. 
  • Agreed to a timetable with China for the full resumption of Australian live rock lobster exports by the end of the year. 
  • Strengthened agricultural ties with China after signing an important agreement that establishes new areas for collaboration and co-operation on organic goods.
  • New market access to Vietnam adding our high-quality plums to existing trade for peaches and nectarines. The development is part of a two-way agricultural market access agreement that provides Australian plums to Vietnam and Vietnamese passionfruit to Australia.
  • The lifting of varietal restrictions on table grapes exported to Japan.
  • Recognition of the Australian canola industry’s low-emissions credentials. Australia’s canola exports to the EU were worth $1.8 billion in 2023-24.
  • Established new access for live Eastern rock lobsters to Vietnam, which expands existing access for Ornate, Western, and Southern Rock Lobster. In 2023-24, Australia exported $132 million worth of rock lobsters to Vietnam.
  • Established new market access for Australian honey and edible apiculture products to be exported to Vietnam.
  • Maintained access through assuring Australia’s animal freedom status and market access for exports of meat and meat products to Taiwan – Australia’s exports of beef, pigmeat, sheep and goatmeat to Taiwan were worth $401 million in 2023-24.
  • Improved access for wine to Thailand through simplified certification and testing requirements. Thailand is a growing export market for wine, with exports worth $58 million in 2023-24.
  • Established new access for Hass avocados to Thailand. In 2023-24, $3.5 million worth of avocados were exported.
  • Simplification of export documentation processes for seafood exporters through the Next Export Documentation (NEXDOC) system.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Julie Collins MP:

“National Agriculture Day is an opportunity to celebrate Australia’s diverse and high-quality industry. We’ve got a great global reputation for delicious, high-quality produce, and I’m pleased to get to highlight it this week during my visit to Peru.

“The Albanese Labor Government is committed to developing strong international relationships and delivering commercially significant export diversification opportunities for our producers.

“We have been able to notch up some great wins for our producers and farmers since coming into government and are committed to supporting our exporters to pursue opportunities in a diverse range of markets.”

Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Senator for Queensland, Anthony Chisholm:

“If our farmers do well, Australia does well. So, on National Agriculture Day we celebrate and thank producers right across the country for the huge part they play in our lives, each and every day. 

“Our Ag industry doesn’t just keep food on our tables, the sector plays a major role in keeping Australia’s economy going, with our agricultural exports set to contribute $68.5 billion this financial year.

“It’s been great to get out on the road this year to meet with producers, and hear how our government can continue to help them and their businesses succeed.”