Government slams Labor-Green opposition to ChAFTA

It is extremely disappointing that Labor is still trying to have a bob each way and refused today in Parliament to send a strong statement in support of the China Australia Free Trade Agreement.

They say they want to support increased trade but they continue to question the Free Trade Agreement in its current form.

Their questioning of ChAFTA is straight from the unions’ play book. Labor has confirmed again today that it is prepared to associate itself with the deliberate and misleading union campaign suggesting the Free Trade Agreement represents a threat to Tasmanian jobs.

The campaign is dishonest and it is wrong.

The ChAFTA is good for Tasmanian jobs and any party that purports to support increased trade, investment and jobs for Tasmanians should be supportive of it.

The ChAFTA offers extraordinary opportunities to Tasmanian exporters, and deserves the unambiguous support of all political parties in Tasmania.

Some of the benefits of the ChAFTA include:

• The agreement supports Tasmanian farmers by removing tariffs of up to 30 per cent on dairy products, beef, sheep meat, wine, apples, cherries, vegetables, seafood, hides, skins and leathers. Farmers will also gain access to growing the exclusive clean wool quota each year until 2024;
• Tasmania’s resources sector will benefit from China removing all tariffs on resources, making our miners more competitive;
• Tariffs on manufactured goods including textiles, clothing and footwear will be removed;
• Education service exporters will benefit as well, with agreement to progressively liberalise measures affecting trade in services; and
• Tariffs on whisky will also be lifted.

I would urge Labor and the Greens to set aside their own political self-interest and instead do what’s in the best interest of Tasmanian jobs and support this agreement.
Matthew Groom, Minister for State Growth