The China free trade agreement, hailed by the government as the start of a new era of opportunity for Australia, has passed parliament's lower house. With Labor support, the necessary changes to customs law sailed through on Thursday after a two-day debate. Trade Minister Andrew Robb, who finalised 10 years of negotiations on the deal, said the Australian brand in China was gold standard. Mr Robb said China, Australia's most important trading partner, was an economy in transition and still had a long way to go to reach its potential. The trade deal would boost many Australian exports, including premium food, value-added manufactures and innumerable services.The long parliamentary debate was generally a chorus of praise for the benefits the deal will bring, although a few Labor MPs expressed some concerns about its effect on jobs and its dispute-settlement mechanisms. In the end, the government, anxious to get the legislation passed before parliament breaks for a fortnight, cut the debate short with 10 of its own MPs still listed to speak. Crossbench co-operation then turned to rancour when Greens MP Adam Bandt tried to amend the legislation to enforce more advertising for jobs before foreign workers were allowed in. Mr Robb accused him of parroting misrepresentations from union thugs, as well as fearmongering and dog-whistling. Mr Bandt shot back that the new era of reasoned debate hadn't lasted long. However, his amendments were crushed by the combined forces of the major parties.

http://www.skynews.com.au/news/top-stories/2015/10/22/vote-expected-on-china-fre...

Chinese firms will have some rights to sue Australian governments for policy changes that adversely affect their interests


The old parties are selling out or democracy so to cuddle up with the communist party of China. 

Kiron22 wrote on Oct 22^nd, 2015 at 5:00pm:


Well it is labor. What did you expect? Principles?  They were right to do so, but for all the wrong reasons.

A grab for wealth by the few at the expense of everyone else. More jobs shipped overseas to make the rich richer.

That'e a good one! Armpit, the Daily Telegraph Puppet complaining the he's seeing nothing original.

____ wrote on Oct 22^nd, 2015 at 4:35pm:


I'm not too worried about the ISDS conditions with the China FTA. Basically the agreement is less aggressive, partly because China does not want to be held to some of the provisions.

For example, a Chinese mine investor could sue if they were denied approval for environmental concerns, but only if the same conditions didn't apply to all applicants.

There is also a clause that the host nation can seek an agreement with home nation that measures being challenged are not in violation of the treaty, and if they agree the company can no longer pursue the claim.

mariacostel wrote on Oct 23^rd, 2015 at 8:38am:


The gap between rich and everyone else is growing though, and it is a cause for concern. If it grows too much it could cause a societal collapse.

mariacostel wrote on Oct 23^rd, 2015 at 8:38am:



Does that include the 800,000 unemployed with little real hope plus the two million or so under-employed who are in the same boat?

Perhaps you could offer us chapter and verse on exactly how we are all so much better off these days.... in fact, so better off that we need pruning since we are apparently getting too much....