Premier buckling under union ChAFTA pressure?

It is disappointing that our Premier seems to be giving in to union pressure over the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement.

In Parliament two weeks ago, Mr Andrews strongly supported ChAFTA, saying “The Chinese free trade agreement is good news for Victorian jobs, and I support it.”

Mr Andrews was right about that. ChAFTA is a huge win for Australia, a win negotiated over many years under both Labor and Coalition governments in Canberra. It is strongly supported by former senior Labor figures such as Bob Hawke, Simon Crean and Bob Carr.

However, today’s Age reports Mr Andrews has now written to unions saying he has “concerns” about the deal. This follows a campaign against the deal by one of Mr Andrews’ key union supporters, the CFMEU.

Victoria and Australia can’t afford to turn down one of the best trade deals that China has ever agreed to. We need our leaders to show courage and argue for what is right, not buckle to factional pressure and dishonest scare campaigns.

To read what Mr Andrews said praising ChAFTA just two weeks ago, see Hansard – 1 September.