Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the China free trade agreement. Will the Prime Minister commit to working with Labor to safeguard Australian jobs?

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. I can only note that, until at least very recently, his only contribution to the debate about the China free trade agreement—while every other Australian was looking forward to the opportunities it gives us, opening up the world's largest single market—was to bob like a cork in the slipstream of the CFMEU. He went along and, by his silence, consented to everything that they were saying.

Now we hear, today, that the Opposition has put forward some proposals. I can confirm to the House what the minister for trade has already said: we will consider, in good faith, the proposals put forward by Labor with regard to the ChAFTA and, having considered them, we will then respond. We welcome Labor's rather belated acceptance that this is a matter that should be treated seriously and treated as one of importance for the whole of the nation. I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his latter-day brush with reality and his preparedness to actually get down to talking about the real issues that confront Australians. My government will consider Labor's proposals and respond in due course.