John Hogg (Queensland, Deputy-President) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to Senator Coonan, the Minister representing the Minister for Trade. Can the minister confirm that the Chinese government has signalled its intention to include greater access for Chinese workers to the Australian labour market as part of the free trade agreement negotiations? Hasn’t China stated an interest in opening up the use of Chinese stevedores on Australian wharves to load and unload Chinese goods, and Chinese construction workers to work on Chinese owned projects in Australia? Can the minister confirm that, far from ruling out any relaxation of current regulations, the government has told China to put up its proposals for discussions in November this year? Why is the government giving the Chinese expectations of a relaxation in the policy? Will the minister now guarantee that relaxing the current regulations on foreign workers will not be part of any agreement with China?