Mr STEPHEN SMITH —My question is directed to the Minister for Trade. The minister would recall that his recent `Trade outcome and objectives statement' includes as key priorities the need to reduce barriers to Australia's sugar exports to China, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the United States, which make up over 50 per cent of our sugar export destinations. The minister would, presumably, be aware that Australia's Uruguay Round obligation is to reduce sugar tariffs to $70 per tonne by the year 2000, already comfortably met by the current tariff of $55 per tonne, effective to July of this year. In light of Australia's aim in its November 1996 APEC individual action plan to further review Australia's sugar tariff and decide on that review this month, is the minister able to advise the House of the government's decision in respect of the sugar tariff?

Mr TIM FISCHER —The member for Perth raises matters which are currently before the government and undergoing due process by the federal government. The Queensland government has previously dealt with the report of the Vaughan committee—the committee which reviewed the sugar industry—and reached a conclusion that they found themselves in support of the recommendations of the Vaughan committee report. The federal government, for its turn, is now part heard on these matters. In due course a comprehensive announcement will be made by my colleague the Minister for Primary Industries and Energy.

The sugar industry is one of our great export industries. I recognise that it is a very unlevel playing field but there is a clear way forward, which is emerging and which the industry has put forward as something they want with regard to the future of their industry. I conclude on a bright note: the sugar price is currently up.