Shorten’s decision on Chinese FTA still pending

Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten is now under great pressure to give his approval on the Chinese Free Trade Agreement, or FTA. His decision is awaited by the government to proceed with the deal.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott released a statement on Tuesday evening and mentioned that Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews had also joined the group of members supporting China-Australia FTA. Former PM Bob Hawke, South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill and former Foreign Minister Bob Carr already support the deal.

Shorten needed the support of the big militant unions, which are opposing the FTA deal with China, to pass his policy for asylum seekers at the ALP conference in July. Therefore, it is believed that Shorten must be under pressure if he should support or remain against the agreement.

The FTA claims to provide several job opportunities to the youth as soon as it is introduced in the country, thereby leading to economic enhancement. “The only person standing in the way of jobs and the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement is Bill Shorten – who is taking instructions from his union masters and the CFMEU,” Abbott said.

Former China ambassador Geoff Raby said the concerns of the opposition has been “greatly exaggerated.” Victorian Labor Premier Daniel Andrews said the FTA is “good news” for the state. “The Chinese free trade agreement is good news for Victorian jobs and I support it,” he said on Tuesday.

Federal Trade Minister Andrew Robb appreciated the Victorian and South Australian ministers for giving their support to the FTA and found Shorten out of touch from the issue. He said that Shorten follows what Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union, or CFMEU, asks him to and hence he is still far away from giving his consent over the China-Australia FTA deal.

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