MADELEINE KING MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR TRADE
MEMBER FOR BRAND

Labor has secured commitments from the Morrison Government to ensure that the implementation of three trade agreements will safeguard Australian jobs and address the exploitation of foreign workers.
 
Last week I wrote to Trade Minister Simon Birmingham seeking firm commitments from the Government in relation to trade agreements with Indonesia, Hong Kong and Peru.
 
Senator Birmingham has today responded to my letter and made a number of commitments, including:

• To seek the termination of the existing bilateral investment treaty with Indonesia.
• A review of older-style investment dispute settlement regimes to ensure they contain modern safeguards.
• An assessment of the operation of investor state dispute settlement (ISDS) mechanism in a review of the Indonesia agreement that is mandated five years after entry-into-force.
• Not to use the provisions of the Indonesia agreement to extend any labour market testing waivers in any future agreement on contractual service suppliers.
• To ensure Working Holiday Makers are not exploited by implementing the Government’s response to the recommendations of the Migrant Workers Taskforce, including introducing new criminal penalties for the exploitation of workers.
• To ensure that Working Holiday Makers are not exploited and that they are qualified for work undertaken in Australia.
• Confirmation that the agreements do not create an obligation to privatise any government services, nor restrict any future decision to acquire public assets.
• An inquiry by the Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Treaties into Australia’s treaty making process which will cover improving transparency and consultation.

However, I note that Senator Birmingham in his response did not make a commitment to implement a process through which independent economic modelling of proposed trade agreement and economic partnerships.
 
Labor calls on the Government to do this.
 
Labor will support these trade agreements because trade generates jobs for Australian workers.
 
Reducing barriers to trade also creates more competitive industries and benefits Australian consumers through lower prices and greater choice.
 
We consulted widely on these issues with stakeholders in the union movement, industry, academia and the public service.