Reports that Chinese workers brought to Australia under the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA) are being paid less than $10 an hour reveal the Turnbull Government is failing to uphold a pledge that the trade agreement would not be used to undermine Australian wages and conditions.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott promised the FTAs labour mobility provisions protect the integrity of our labour market and everyone working in Australia will be employed under Australian wages and conditions.
Labor fought to preserve labour market testing under ChAFTA and insisted on the payment of Australian wages to all workers in Australia as a condition of our support for the trade deal.
Malcolm Turnbull must immediately investigate how this situation has occurred. He must also guarantee that this is not occurring elsewhere in the labour market.
Any failure by the Turnbull Government to maintain the integrity of our labour market and minimum wage system must be immediately remedied. If it is not, then its patently clear that Mr Turnbull and his Liberal Government are prepared to sell out local workers.
As a matter of priority, a Shorten Labor Government will investigate this unlawful and exploitative conduct.
Todays reports are another example of the Abbott-Turnbull Government saying one thing and doing another.
It is also deeply concerning that workplace occupational health and safety obligations are reportedly being ignored.
Workplace safety is a top priority of Labor and if safety on worksites is being compromised then Mr Turnbull must immediately consider options to ensure that it is not.
Only a Shorten Labor Government can be trusted to put people first.