Union bans donations to Labor MPs, slams Albanese over trade deals

Anger over Labor’s backing of free-trade deals has prompted a key union to axe future donations.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese in Sydney on Wednesday. Picture: AAP

The Electrical Trades Union will no longer provide ­donations or logistic support to the federal Labor Party and has criticised ­Anthony Albanese over a “lack of leadership” after the ­federal opposition voted for three free-trade agreements.

The union provided the ALP with almost $1m across all ­branches in the lead-up to the May 18 election.

At a meeting of the ETU’s divisional council in Hobart on Wednesday night, the union resolved that future financial support would be considered only for “individual MPs and candidates who publicly support a strong position on fair trade”.

The ETU also resolved that its funding ban would not be ­extended to state Labor parties.

“The Electrical Trades Union resolves that it is appalled by the actions of the Labor shadow cabinet in supporting recent trade deals,” the resolution said.

“The lack of leadership shown by Anthony Albanese and the lack of direct communication by caucus members is a disgrace.

“There will be no future financial or other support to the federal Labor Party while it continues to agree to trade deals which undermine the safety and security of Australian workers, and/or sell out our national sovereignty.”

The ETU’s decision to withdraw donations comes as the Opposition Leader prepares to deliver his first major speech on the economy in Brisbane on ­Friday.

The Construction Forestry Maritime Mining and Energy Union has threatened to pull funding if Labor continues to support free-trade policies that it says hurt Australian jobs.

The union movement has been scathing of Labor’s decision to vote for the Indonesian, Hong Kong and Peru free-trade agreements, which passed parliament with bipartisan support. Some ­opposition MPs have also warned that the issue could damage the party ahead of the 2022 election.

One year before the ALP nat­ional conference, to be held in Canberra in December 2020 after Mr Albanese brought it forward, the ETU resolved to campaign to ensure “strict policies on trade ­remain in the ALP platform”.

ETU national secretary Allen Hicks said the Labor Party had “completely sold out working people on trade policy”.

“We worked hard and in good faith to give Labor a decent policy which was passed at the national conference — yet it’s all been swept aside,” Mr Hicks said.

“Working people rightly expect the party they founded to represent their economic interests. It’s unfathomable that Labor would expose them to low-wage competition at a time when incomes are already flatlining.

“Labor’s support for these free-trade deals is more than a betrayal of its own platform; it’s a betrayal of hardworking men and women, their safety, job security and our national sovereignty.”

There are 1000 Indonesians in Australia on working holiday visas but under the FTA that number is expected to increase to about 4000 in the first year and 5000 after the sixth year. Union leaders, including ACTU president Michele O’Neil, have expressed concern about investor-state dispute settlement pro­visions that allow foreign investors in some circumstances to sue the federal government in international tribunals if they consider new Australian laws harm their interests.

Labor’s national platform, adopted late last year, pledged that an ALP government would work to abolish ISDS provisions.

Opposition trade spokeswoman Madeleine King said the FTAs were not deals Labor would have done if it was in government but it was up to the party “to do whatever we can to create and protect Australian jobs”.

“That’s why we consulted with trade unions and secured significant concessions from the government concerning the imple­mentation of the free-trade deals, including no labour market testing waivers,” Ms King said.

“Labor is the party of jobs. Subject to proper protections, we will support trade arrangements that lead to the creation of new jobs in the national interest.”

Outlining the union’s opposition against Labor’s support for free-trade deals, ETU officials said their members felt “tired of having their employment impacted by imported labour and the offshoring of manufacturing”.

“Employers won’t train the next generation of tradespeople if they can bring in exploited foreign workers,” the ETU said.

“Last week, the Treasurer, Josh Frydenberg, approved the sale of Bellamy’s milk formula business to a Chinese conglomerate. Despite massive demand, Australian baby formula producers are not allowed to sell into China unless a Chinese company entirely or partially owns them.”