Shorten opposes China free trade deal

Good job. Looks like Shorten is finally growing some balls. Why in the hell do we need to import Chinese workers when Australia's unemployment is the highest in 12 years? It makes not the slightest sense.

Bill Shorten will not denounce a union-led assault on the Australia-China free-trade pact despite the Foreign Affairs Department taking the extraordinary step of drafting a “myth-busting’’ fact sheet challenging the basis of the scare campaign. 

The department’s document seeks to counter union allegations that the billion-dollar bilateral trade agreement will hand Chinese companies an unfettered ability to import Chinese workers on lower wages and conditions and threaten Australian jobs. 

It also slams as false the argument from the Electrical Trades Union that Chinese electricians can work on projects without having their skills assessed, and finds there is no basis to claims Chinese companies will be able to import dangerous products such as asbestos or dodge food safety standards. 

Trade Minister Andrew Robb has demanded the Opposition Leader choose between backing the agreement or supporting what he has dubbed a “racist’’ and “xenophobic’’ union campaign to undermine the trade deal. 

Speaking in Melbourne, Mr Shorten said Labor had always been keen to improve trade ties with China. 

“What we won’t do is allow the labour standards and job security of Australians to be undermined by a weakening of the testing provisions in terms of guest-worker provisions in this country,’’ he said. 

“We believe Australia is smart enough to improve our trade with China but also not sell out Australian jobs and the conditions of Australian workers.’’ more

Lieberals accusing Labor of racism? Oh please........