Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

That is a pretty squalid question, if I may say so, from a member who was quite happy to do deals with China when it suited his commercial interests to do so. Let me answer the member's question by quoting, again, Professor the Hon. Bob Carr—the former Labor Premier of New South Wales, the former Labor foreign minister of this country, and someone who would have liked to have negotiated the deal that we have actually done, but at least he has the magnanimity to call it for Australia rather than play sordid politics with our country and its future. Let me quote what Professor the Hon. Bob Carr had to say in response to the member who asked the question: 'Under the China FTA, the skill level of 457 visa applicants from China will be assessed in exactly the same way as those from 150 other countries around the world. If a 457 visa is granted, a worker from China will still need to meet any licensing and registration requirements at the federal or state level, including passing any tests or skills assessment.'

Mr Conroy interjecting—

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