SENATOR PENNY WONG

LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION IN THE SENATE

SHADOW MINISTER FOR TRADE AND INVESTMENT
SENATOR FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA
THE HON BRENDAN OCONNOR
SHADOW MINISTER FOR EMPLOYMENT AND WORKPLACE RELATIONS
SHADOW SPECIAL MINISTER OF STATE
MEMBER FOR GORTON

TURNBULL GOVERNMENT FAILING CHAFTA PLEDGE

Reports that Chinese workers brought to Australia under the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA) are
being paid less than $10 an hour reveal the Turnbull Government is failing to uphold a pledge that the trade
agreement would not be used to undermine Australian wages and conditions.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott promised the FTAs labour mobility provisions protect the integrity of our labour market
and everyone working in Australia will be employed under Australian wages and conditions.
Labor fought to preserve labour market testing under ChAFTA and insisted on the payment of Australian wages to all
workers in Australia as a condition of our support for the trade deal.
Malcolm Turnbull must immediately investigate how this situation has occurred. He must also guarantee that this is
not occurring elsewhere in the labour market.
Any failure by the Turnbull Government to maintain the integrity of our labour market and minimum wage system
must be immediately remedied. If it is not, then its patently clear that Mr Turnbull and his Liberal Government are
prepared to sell out local workers.
As a matter of priority, a Shorten Labor Government will investigate this unlawful and exploitative conduct.
Todays reports are another example of the Abbott-Turnbull Government saying one thing and doing another.

It is also deeply concerning that workplace occupational health and safety obligations are reportedly being ignored.
Workplace safety is a top priority of Labor and if safety on worksites is being compromised then Mr Turnbull must
immediately consider options to ensure that it is not.
Only a Shorten Labor Government can be trusted to put people first.
SATURDAY, 4 JUNE 2016

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