China Free Trade Agreement: union launches emotive ad campaign

A union campaign against a China trade deal gets a dramatic airing during MasterChef. VIDEO

A dramatic prime-time TV advertisement against the government’s free trade agreement airing during tonight’s MasterChef episode ups the ante in the unions’ campaign against the deal with China.

The 45-second spot portrays a sombre scene in the kitchen of a family home as a father delivers to his son over the kitchen table the news that there will be ‘no jobs’ for him out of the free trade deal.

Union's campaign against Free Trade Agreement

The construction union posted the ad on Youtube in a “soft launch” yesterday and the Electrical Trades Union tweeted a link to the video this evening with the comment: “Most of Australia has to wait until tonight’s MasterChef to see this. You all get a sneak preview now. Share it around so that people know what’s at stake with this dodgy deal.”

The segment was authorised by national secretary Allen Hicks and carries the tag-line “Tony Abbott made a choice, he just didn’t choose you”.

A previous ad that screened two weeks ago, authorised by Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union secretary Michael O’Connor, had the same line.

It featured an abstract parade of lightbulbs smashing.

The latest ad is a change of genre, and comes with a heavy dose of social drama:

Father: “Tony Abbott’s stuffed it up”

Son: “How?”

(Cut to shot of baby in a high chair)

Father: “Well he’s letting Chinese companies bring in their own workers”

Female (folding the washing): “What, can’t we do the work?”

Father: “They don’t even have to advertise the jobs.... Sorry but you won’t even get a look in, son. Tony Abbott made a choice, he just didn’t choose you.”