Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

After 15 Dorothy Dixers from the government this week on the China free trade deal, I have some real questions for the Minister representing the Minister for Trade and Investment, Senator Payne. Minister, the government has claimed this week that the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement, if signed, will immediately create tens of thousands of jobs and add billions of dollars to the Australian economy. Given that trade is a major component used in the measurement of GDP, or economic growth, can the minister explain why the supposed 'rivers of gold' from ChAFTA are not factored into Treasury forecasts for economic growth?