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London calling for Peninsula business

A-UKFTA, the free trade agreement signed in December 2021 between Australia and the UK, has the potential to create enormous opportunities for Mornington Peninsula businesses. That’s according to the Committee for Mornington Peninsula, which last month led a discussion and briefing from UK ConsulGeneral Steph Lysaght (pictured with Josh Sinclair, left) on the agreement and what it means for the Peninsula, including visas, jobs, and the removal of trade barriers.

The committee said exporting opportunities for Peninsula brewers, wineries, and distillers had grown over recent years and was expected to grow further after the implementation of the A-UKFTA. There was also an enormous opportunity to work with the State Government and help get British workers to Victoria, and particularly regions suffering from chronic staff shortages.

“While the UK is half a world away, the trade opportunities for our region are now tangible," said CEO Josh Sinclair. "The FTA will see greater people movement and an ease in conditions placed on visas, meaning more workers to fill our staff shortages in our local restaurants, wineries and hotels. Similarly, the export opportunities for our homegrown beer, wine and distilled spirits are endless with essentially tariff-free trade between the two countries opening up new markets to business here on the Mornington Peninsula. The demand for Australian wine, beer, spirits and low-alcohol products in the UK is growing, and our region has an enormous opportunity to benefit from that."

Mr Sinclair said the A-UKFTA would be vital for the region and lead to an increase in trade in goods and services as well as seeing more skilled workers making their way to the Peninsula.

Flinders federal Liberal MP Zoe McKenzie, who attended the briefing, said now was the time for businesses to make the most of the agreement, not when it came into operation. This was especially the case when it came to recruitment opportunities, she said. The briefing was also attended by Hastings state Labor MP Paul Mercurio, Nepean state Liberal MP Sam Groth, Mornington Peninsula Shire councillor Antonella Celi, and Roger Lancia and Angela Cleland from Mornington Peninsula Regional Tourism.

The committee thanked the UK Consulate for briefing its members and stakeholders on the A-UKFTA, Point Leo Estate and Smart Business Solutions for hosting the discussions, and the many Peninsula businesses and producers who attended.