Canning byelection a vote on China trade deal
The stand-off over the China-Australia free trade agreement has become front and central in the Canning byelection with Bill Shorten warning locals their jobs were at risk while former prime minster John Howard accused the Labor leader of recklessly opposing the national interest.
Federal Labor does not oppose the FTA but is demanding the government enshrine in law safeguards which would mandate that Chinese companies must seek Australians before importing their own labour. The opposition argues the agreement has been watered down to make this requirement discretionary.
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