Over the past twelve months Mr Abbott has talked the deal up, and talked it down again.
Tomorrow Australians deserve more than a photo opportunity featuring Mr Abbott, they deserve the text of the FTA he has negotiated on behalf of the nation.
Only by tabling the full text of the FTA can Mr Abbott satisfy the Australian Parliament and the community that the deal is in the national interest.
Labor is deeply concerned that key export sectors like sugar have been told to expect nothing from the deal.
We are also concerned that the Abbott Government has not got the message on jobs.
FTAs should create job opportunities which means Australian workers able and willing to fill job vacancies must have that chance.
Mr Abbott has talked about a two-step FTA , the fact is, Australia can't afford a second-rate FTA with China.
A first-rate China-Australia FTA will feature:
- New Zealand-plus market access outcomes for Australian farmers and other exporters;
- Elimination or significant reductions in tariffs on Australian industrial goods;
- Retention of Australias anti-dumping safeguards;
- Major improvements in market access for Australian services;
- A reduction in red-tape and other barriers to Chinese investment in Australia and to Australian investment in China;
- No provisions which give Chinese companies operating in Australia superior legal rights to those enjoyed by Australian companies; and
- Retention of labour market testing or comparable safeguards on temporary migration.
