text: NT farmers to increase exports, income thanks to new Indonesia trade agreement » Nigel Scullion
  NT farmers to increase exports, income thanks to new Indonesia trade agreement
  Improves market access for live cattle and frozen beef, helping our NT farmers
  Territory farmers will be able to export more cattle to Indonesia and receive more for it after the Coalition Government signed a new trade agreement with Indonesia.
  Country Liberals Senator for the Northern Territory, Nigel Scullion, said the agreement allows more access for our live cattle trade, so our cattle industry will be able to export more and get a better return on their hard work.
  Senator Scullion said he was rapt to see the Coalition Government's hard work pay off with real results for Territory farmers.
  "Our local cattle producers will get duty free access for 575,000 cattle in year one, growing 4% p.a. to 700,000 by year 6, and this means more money in their pockets," Senator Scullion said.
  "More money in our farmer's pockets means more spending in town at the pub, clothing store and hairdresser and more local jobs. We all know how hard our Territory cattlemen and women work and how important they are to our region.
  "Remaining tariffs on all Australian exports of frozen beef into Indonesia will also be reduced to 2.5% immediately, and eliminated after 5 years, in another boost to the Territory cattle industry looking at other opportunities outside of the live trade.
  "While Labor remains intent on shutting down the live export trade and hurting all of our rural industries, the CLP remains committed to supporting our pastoralists and their future by securing trade agreements with our key trading partners like Indonesia and providing better access to more markets.
  "This agreement will allow Territory farmers and businesses to take advantage of Indonesia's growing economy particularly in the agricultural and manufacturing industries.
  "I expect this agreement will open up new pathways and make Territory businesses more competitive within the Indonesian market and with other trading partners in the region.
  "This will not only help local businesses to grow into overseas markets, but with business growth also comes the creation of more local job opportunities.
  "Besides this wonderful news for the cattle industry, I look forward to seeing how local construction, mining and work training industries are able to take advantage of this trade deal.
  "Given our proximity to Indonesia, I also see opportunity for Charles Darwin University, as the agreement locks in future liberalisation for Australian universities setting up in Indonesia, as Indonesia opens up its education sector.
  "While the CLP has done the hard work to secure this deal, all Territorians know that Labor hates trade deals and hates the jobs that these deals deliver – it is now more important than ever that Luke Gosling comes clean with Territorians and tell them whether he supports this Indonesia-Australia trade deal," Senator Scullion said.