P-plate Palaszczuk threatens exports and jobs

A Palaszczuk Labor Government policy that the Minister responsible describes as "breaking the Government's trade agreements," commences today. This recklessness is no accident – Premier Palaszczuk has declared her Government will "no longer be constrained or bound by free trade agreements."

More than 70 per cent of Queensland's exports last year were to countries with which Australia already has a free trade agreement. By walking away from these agreements Premier Palaszczuk is walking away from the Queensland farmers and businesses who sell Queensland's products, produce and services to the world, putting 500,000 Queensland jobs at risk.

Queensland exports are worth $70 billion a year. The Queensland Government procurement market is worth $14 billion. Did Premier Palaszczuk fail maths?

Premier Palaszczuk and her three predecessors gave written commitments to be bound by Australia's free trade agreements with the United States, Korea, Japan, Singapore and Chile. These commitments helped the Australian Government secure world-leading access for Australian exporters into these markets. The Queensland Government itself is a party to the Australia New Zealand Government Procurement Agreement.

The Government of New Zealand has now formally initiated consultations with the Australian Government. The Australian Government has had contact from a second affected party.

On the 28th of July this year, Premier Palaszczuk said "the Queensland Government works to promote free trade agreements to benefit Queensland," but the following day she declared: "the State Government will no longer be constrained or bound by free trade agreements." If free trade agreements benefit Queensland, why does Premier Palaszczuk want to abandon them?

The Commonwealth and other states design their procurement policies in a way that is consistent with our trade agreements. Premier Palaszczuk is a P-plate Premier who is so out of her depth she could not design a policy that met the trade agreement obligations her own Government signed up to.

Premier Palaszczuk's reckless policy is putting Queensland jobs at risk. She needs to admit she got it wrong and abandon this problematic policy.