Mr FARMER (2:52 PM) —My question is addressed to the Minister for Trade. Would the minister please inform the House of how the Australia-United States free trade agreement will create jobs for Western Sydney, especially in areas like Campbelltown and Camden in Macarthur, and what specific tariff reductions will benefit Western Sydney?

Mr VAILE (Minister for Trade) —I would like to thank the honourable member for Macarthur for his question. The member for Macarthur well and truly recognises the importance of this agreement to the Australian economy, linking Australia's economy to the largest economy in the world and, of course, the opportunities that that will present to all the small business people and manufacturing industries in Western Sydney. In fact, it was interesting to read an article in Time magazine—I think it came out this morning—which said:

I am sure there are lots of them in the seat of Macarthur in Western Sydney, and they are well represented by another brave and creative Australian. The member for Macarthur knows only too well—and the Leader of the Opposition, also being a member from Western Sydney, should also know only too well—the importance of the manufacturing exporting industries in Western Sydney. The Leader of the Opposition would be well aware that manufacturing is the biggest single employer in Western Sydney, particularly in Camden and Campbelltown, employing around 14,000 people and generating about $1.2 billion worth of turnover. I am sure the Leader of the Opposition has also recognised by now—or would have been advised by Senator Conroy—that, as result of the free trade agreement negotiated with the United States, 97 per cent of manufactured products will gain tariff-free access into the United States, meaning job creation and job growth in those areas where the manufacturing industries are.

One classic example of this is the removal of the tariff on vehicle inspection systems. I know that there is a business in the seat of Macarthur that is well known to the member for Macarthur called Vehicle Inspection Systems Pty Ltd, which designs, manufactures, sells and services a range of specialist heavy vehicle testing equipment for the road transport industry world wide. Guess what, Mr Speaker? Guess where its largest market is? Its largest market is in North America. The company says that the elimination of the duty paid on its exports to the United States will give it a competitive advantage and lead to a further expansion of its already 50-strong work force.

So no wonder the member for Macarthur is a strong supporter of the Australia-US free trade agreement. He knows that it will benefit not only the Australian economy but also particularly his constituents in the seat of Macarthur. We all know one of the more famous constituents in the seat of Macarthur. The challenge still rests before the Labor Party to stop opposing this, to stop trawling and digging around to find the negatives in this agreement, and to be like the member for Macarthur and recognise the importance of this agreement to the small business manufacturers of Western Sydney.