Helen Coonan (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts) Share this | Hansard source

I am not sure that the supplementary question follows logically from the answer I gave, because what I did make clear in my primary answer was that China has not made a request for access for unskilled labour to Australia. However, that is not to say that both China and Australia are not free to raise any issue of interest to them in the negotiations. But, looking at Australia’s record on this matter, no free trade agreement that Australia has made in the past has provided for an agreement or an outcome of the kind to which Senator Hogg alludes. The government is mindful and will continue to be mindful during negotiations of the interests of Australian workers. It is entirely appropriate that we will be mindful of the interests of Australian workers and the need to prevent the exploitation of overseas workers.