China and Australia’s agricultural sector
December
1. Australia’s agricultural exports to China reached $8.5 billion in 2014-15.[1] This compared with:
- $5.1 billion to the US
- $3.9 billion to Japan
- $3.3 billion to Indonesia
2. A Chinese government-owned company wanting to invest in Australia’s agricultural sector must obtain Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) approval, irrespective of the value of the proposed purchase.[2]
Labor finally puts China trade ahead of its squeaky wheels
December
by James Laurenceson
Note – this article originally appeared in the Australian Financial Review
Getting there wasn't pretty, but Labor got their response to the China free trade agreement right in the end.
On Tuesday a modest list of safeguards for bringing in workers from overseas was tabled, which if accepted by the government will see the deal sail through Parliament with bipartisan support.
Australia needs a solid economic stance on China
December
Note: This article appeared in Business Spectator on 13 October 2015
Xenophobic, even racist: that’s the accusation being levelled at federal Labor in its handling of the China Free Trade Agreement.
Two considerations have left them vulnerable to the charge.
Malcolm Turnbull must push the China FTA deal through
December
Note: This article appeared in The Australian on 23 September 2015.
A challenge the Turnbull government faces is to secure the safe passage of the China free trade agreement.
The China FTA: all the facts and figures
December
1. Critics have called for mandatory labour market testing (LMT) with respect to the China FTA.
The China FTA - The State of Play
December
China-Australia FTA concerns unwarranted
December
Note: This article appeared in The Australian Financial Review on 7 September 2015.
Labour concerns in China FTA misplaced
December
Note: This piece was sent as a letter to the editor of the Sydney Morning Herald on 5 September 2015.
Bob Kinnaird and Bob Birrell conclude that the China FTA means labour-market testing (LMT) will be removed for all Chinese nationals on 457 visas (“Under FTA, Chinese workers can avoid labour-market testing”, September 4)