Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Hansard source

ChAFTA is just like the trade agreements that have come before it, including those signed by senators opposite. This includes the Chilean agreement and the Thai free trade agreement, for example. In terms of the agreements that were signed by Labor, they also included movement of natural person provisions to facilitate the entry of trade related roles, such as senior executives of companies and personnel required to service specialised equipment purchased from overseas. The provisions within the ChAFTA, in this regard, are the same.

However, there is one point of difference that those on the other side may wish to know about. In respect of the ChAFTA, it is that Australia has agreed to the investment facilitation agreements for companies to encourage large-scale investment in Australia. The provision under which workers will enter Australia under an IFA is consistent with Labor's own enterprise migration agreements policy. In fact, it is arguably stronger, as we have made sure that labour market testing under the IFA will be absolutely mandatory. (Time expired)