SENATOR PENNY WONG, LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION IN THE SENATE: Thanks very much for coming. We see today in the paper that millions of dollars of taxpayers money is going to be spent selling the China Free Trade Agreement. Now, Andrew Robb has got two committees running in the Parliament looking at the China Free Trade Agreement, he hasnt even presented the enabling legislation, but just in time for the Canning by-election hes prepared to spend millions of dollars of your money to sell his deal. A deal that he cant explain, a deal that risks Australian jobs because it lacks critical safeguards.
I think Australians know whats happening; Australians money is being used to spruik a deal that risks jobs because this Government wants to run this in its upcoming by-election. I dont think its good enough and I dont think Australians think its good enough. Happy to take questions.
JOURNALIST: The Government would just say its trying to get some facts into the debate after the union scare campaign.
WONG: Well, the Government should be answering questions about this deal, it should be answering questions about why it hasnt included key safeguards to ensure Australian jobs, it should be answering questions instead of spending your money on an ad campaign.
JOURNALIST: What do you make of the Governments (inaudible) change environmental laws, theyre claiming it is a fight between jobs and green groups.
WONG: This is yet another Tony Abbott distraction to get away from the problems hes got with a Royal Commissioner who was going to attend a Liberal fundraiser and the massive split in the party and his Cabinet on marriage equality. This is an announcement that they couldnt get right, they couldnt even agree what the terms were, that Phillip Ruddock has said is unnecessary. Lets remember the case they are talking about didnt fail because environmental groups took action, it failed because the Government made a mistake.
JOURNALIST: So, just on the ad campaign itself, when you said Australian jobs were at risk, the Government says the (inaudible) in the FTA are the same as 457s.
WONG: Have a look at the text of the agreement. Its quite clear that key safeguards that should have been included to ensure that jobs were available to Australians first have not been included, and the text of the agreement makes that very clear. Again I say, labour market testing, making sure Australians can have the opportunity to get these jobs first-
JOURNALIST: -Doesnt that happen later in the process though?
WONG: Have a look at the text of the agreement, but I again say this to Andrew Robb and to Tony Abbott, why dont you start answering questions instead of spending taxpayers money spruiking your deal that risks jobs. Thank you.
