Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

Let us be very clear. The Prime Minister has abrogated all leadership, as he does right now. I hope he is going back to his office to call the Leader of the Opposition and say: 'Let's get this issue sorted. Let's get the China free trade agreement implemented. Let's make arrangements to meet your concerns,' because, let us be very clear, Australia needs a free trade agreement with China, not least because the poor economic management of this government, and this Treasurer in particular, has given us 0.2 per cent growth and 800,000 unemployed people—and they lecture us about jobs and growth!

I will tell you something else we will not be lectured about, Mr Deputy Speaker, and that is China. We will not be lectured about China by this government. This week, legislation will be debated which reduces the threshold for foreign investment review of investment in agriculture from China to $15 million, when the threshold for the United States is $1 billion. 'Don't you dare engage in a xenophobic scare campaign'? The Minister for Agriculture goes around the country warning about the dangers of China's investment. Not a week goes by when the Treasurer does not hold an emergency press conference about China's investment in residential real estate. Don't you lecture us about xenophobic scare campaigns. Not a week goes by, not a day goes by, when they do not do that.

Let us be very clear. There is an option here for the Prime Minister to show some leadership. He has got a precedent. The Liberal Party has got form. When concerns were raised about the US free trade agreement, John Howard showed leadership. He reach an arrangement with the Leader of the Opposition, and the legislation passed. Well, does the love child of John Howard and the member for Mackellar have the same leadership in him? Does he have it in him? I have got to say the evidence is looking pretty good. I knew John Howard. I worked with John Howard. This man is no John Howard. He will not show the leadership.

The point is very clear. If everything the government say is true, if they are confident in everything they say, if there are no plans to water down labour market testing requirements, if there are no plans to make it easier, then why won't they simply agree to a sensible amendment to enshrine it in legislation? The government should have nothing to fear. Instead they engage in cheap politics. Instead they engage in stunts and wedges, because that is all this Prime Minister is capable of—stunts and wedges.

The Labor Party will act in line with our heritage and with our legacy. When Gough Whitlam recognised China, he did it because it was in the interest of all Australians. When Bob Hawke and Paul Keating increased engagement with Asia, it was to benefit all Australians. It was to ensure that all Australians benefited. This side of the House will insist that that same legacy, that same heritage, is implemented as we implement a free trade agreement with China. The China free trade agreement can be passed. The China free trade agreement can be passed quickly if this Prime Minister is up to showing the leadership that the Australian people formed a judgement a long time ago he just does not have.

See this speech in context