Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the Prime Minister's answer in question time yesterday regarding labour market testing for investment facilitation agreements. He said the IFA MOU provides that 'there will be labour market testing before people are actually employed'. Isn't it correct that there is no mandatory requirement for labour market testing before people are actually employed in this MOU? Will the Prime Minister now apologise for misleading Australians?

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

I think the member that asked this question is channelling Billy Hughes and the other people who put the White Australia policy—

Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

He was the member for Sydney, wasn't he?

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

He was, I think, the member for Sydney. Let me quote back to the shadow minister for foreign affairs—

Ms Butler interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Griffith will cease interjecting.

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

the words of the former minister for foreign affairs Professor the Hon. Bob Carr.

Ms Butler interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Griffith again!

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

He says: 'If the China FTA is ratified any temporary workers will come to Australia under the existing 457 scheme. This scheme allows employers to access overseas workers where a genuine skills shortage exists. The Worker Protection Act 2008 also means that 457 visa holders are entitled to receive pay and conditions at least as good as Australian workers who are doing the same at the same workplace.' Exactly the same conditions as operated under members opposite, exactly the same conditions that members opposite put on the one or two rather small free trade agreements that they concluded, apply to this agreement.

We have got a lot of hyperventilating from members opposite. This is the 'Project Agreement Form, Information for Employers Requesting a Project Labour Agreement, May 2015'. Let me read it for the shadow minister for foreign affairs, who does not do her homework—she wants a terrorist picnic in Syria and she thinks Africa is a country! Let me read it very slowly so the member for Sydney can hear it.

Mr Bowen interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for McMahon is warned.

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

I am trying to educate the slow learners over there who are haunted by the ghost of the White Australia policy. I am reading:

The department will only enter into a project labour agreement where it has been satisfied that Australians have been provided first opportunity for jobs.

Let's have no more racist lies from members opposite.