Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

The biggest risk to Australia's future success which would follow the implementation of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement is the weakness of the current leader of the Labor Party, Mr Shorten, and the weakness of his shadow cabinet to stand up to him and force him to do the right thing. Where is the shadow minister for trade and investment? She is not only their worst finance minister in the history of the Commonwealth; she is also the worst shadow minister for trade and investment in the history of the Commonwealth. She is running up records for worst performance in portfolio after portfolio. She knows in her heart of hearts that the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement is in our national interest, that it will help deliver growth in jobs. She knows she should do the right thing—she could get her leader to back Bob Hawke, Bob Carr and a whole lot of other Labor luminaries that have been backing the agreement. Or is she still, like Senator Cameron used to say, having her lobotomy— (Time expired)