Mr RONALDSON (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Regional Development)(12.54 p.m.) —In the time available to me I would like to echo the sentiments of the member for Mallee (Mr Forrest) and the member for Bruce (Mr Griffin), particularly in relation to the Commonwealth graves, and also the member for Bruce's comments about Mr Lomp, the secretary to the delegation. I also thank all the officers at a parliamentary level at this end and our hosts overseas.

There are a number of matters that I want to talk about on behalf of the member for Mallee. I had the great honour to deliver a speech at the Council of Europe enlarged parliamentary assembly debate on the WTO and the implementation of the Uruguay Round. I was at that time able to say on behalf of the delegation and on behalf of the Australian parliamentary group that was there the deep concern that the member for Mallee and I had—indeed, all the members of the delegation were of great support to us in this regard—about the level of support for agricultural producers in Europe as opposed to those in Australia.

We were able to tell the Europeans at every opportunity the facts of life. Indeed, the latest OECD documentation shows that, whereas Australia has a producer subsidy equivalent of nine per cent and New Zealand four per cent, the European Union has an average PSE of 49 per cent with figures as high as 81 per cent. I am sure the member for Bruce will have vivid memories of how we very firmly and actively pursued that matter in the large number of forums that we were in.

My colleagues have talked about matters that I do not want to touch on as well. I thought it was worth while giving an indication of the great challenges that face the Europeans—and I think the Republic of Ireland was the only place that I heard this publicly discussed—that is, the impacts of the changes that will have to take place in Europe in relation to their levels of subsidies. With those other countries wanting to join the union, there is enormous financial pressure on the union. Its present levels of subsidies are unsustainable. I thought it was interesting discussing in the Republic of Ireland the economic and social implications of reduced subsidies.

If you look at the massive structural changes that this country has had to go through with a shift from country to urban areas, I think that will pale into insignificance compared with what will potentially happen in Europe over the next 10 or 15 years. They do have enormous challenges. I do not envy them the task that lies ahead, but I do stress absolutely that they do have to do it. On behalf of our rural producers, the member for Mallee and I not only urged but demanded that they take those actions. As I say, the members of the delegation, even those without any rural constituencies, were of enormous support to the delegation.

The other interesting matter raised with us was Europe's perception, especially amongst our parliamentary colleagues in Europe, of where our relationship is with Europe vis-a-vis Asia. I got the distinct impression—and I am sure that was shared by other members of the delegation—that the Europeans see us in a bit of a no-man's-land at the moment. They do not know whether we are basically still with Europe or whether we have now shifted to Asia. I think it is absolutely essential that we as a nation, if you like, strike our line in the sand in that regard.

Mr SPEAKER —Order! The period allocated for debate on this report has expired. I thank all the contributors.