China-Australia Free Trade Agreement

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (14:51): I have a supplementary question for the Premier. Have you raised the China free trade agreement, and the need to support it, with the federal Leader of the Opposition, Bill Shorten, or any of your federal MP counterparts?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier) (14:51): If they had been following the press or, indeed, the answers to my questions in parliament, I think they would have got the message pretty loud and clear. I think I was the first Labor leader around the nation to call for the speedy support of the China free trade agreement, but at the same time I also believe it is proper for concerns about Australians getting the bulk of the jobs which may flow from any investments in this country to be also addressed.

I cannot remember where it was said, but I heard a sensible contribution recently which said, 'Why can't we have just a debate which is not about on the one hand whether we actually sign this agreement or on the other hand whether we block this agreement, have a sensible discussion on what it actually does mean for us to entertain investment in this country but also make sure that jobs stay with Australians?'

Nobody seriously thinks that we are entering into this free trade agreement to create jobs in another country or for foreign workers to come and work here and then go back to their country of origin. That cannot be the objective of the free trade agreement. To the extent that there are concerns about that, they should be addressed, not in the hysterical way that we have seen but in a sensible way, through a process of debate.

We have our own independent position here that we arrive at by applying our own intelligent judgement to the matter. We are not dictated to by outside forces, or even by our federal colleagues where our interests come into conflict with our federal colleagues. It is an approach that I would urge on those opposite. It is an approach which I would urge on those opposite: think for yourself and make your own judgement.

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The deputy leader is living on the edge.