Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Employment, Senator Cash. I refer to the instrument signed by the minister on 6 November 2014, in her former capacity as the Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, which removed labour market testing under four bilateral free trade deals. Last week the minister told the Senate:

The policy of the government is very clear … where there is an Australian ready, willing and able to undertake work, that Australian should be employed.

Can the minister explain how her statement is consistent with the removal of labour market testing?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Cameron for the question. You know when Senator Cameron has had a bad day, don't you? He must be hurting over the imposition of law and order on the building and construction industry, which occurred today—a significant economic reform for this government. In relation to the question, I do remember at the time, in relation in particular to the China free trade agreement, which was one of the agreements that this government signed, the opposition from those opposite in relation to ensuring that businesses in Australia are as competitive as this government can make them. But I also, Senator Cameron, remember the irony of the time in relation to the CFMEU. Colleagues, if you recall, we had a cap that CFMEU members proudly wear—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Pause the clock. Senator Cameron, on a point of order?

Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, this is on relevance. The question I have asked is: can the minister explain how her statement is consistent with the removal of labour market testing? She has not gone anywhere near that question, and her attention should be drawn to the question.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will remind the minister of the question. Minister, you have a minute and nine seconds.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I was saying, just by way of the free trade agreements that Senator Cameron is referring to, the irony of Labor and the CFMEU's opposition was that the caps that the CFMEU wear are made in China—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Pause the clock. Senator Wong, on a point of order?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The headwear of choice—

Government senators interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order on my right! On my right! Order!

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My point of order is relevance. We did not ask about the CFMEU's headwear. We asked a very straightforward question about this minister's removal of labour market testing under four free trade agreements in her portfolio and her statement subsequently as to government policy. You have done her the courtesy, Mr President, of reminding her of the question. I would ask that she not ask for the extension of such a courtesy unnecessarily.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Again, I will remind the minister of the question.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Those opposite would know that, in relation to foreign labour and access to it, our free trade agreements are consistent with world trade obligations. But they are also similar, if not identical, to free trade agreements that the Labor Party signed when they were in office. Can I also remind the Senate that in relation to free trade agreements, if you want to start ticking of success in signing up—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Pause the clock.

Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Again, on relevance; there is one clear and unequivocal question here: can the minister explain how her statement is consistent with her removal of labour market testing? She again has not gone anywhere near that question.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I disagree with you that she has not gone near the question, because she is now addressing matters to the question but has not specifically answered the detail of your question; however, the minister is certainly addressing the question.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I was saying, in relation to ensuring that Australian businesses do have opportunities under free trade agreements, it is this side of the chamber that has ensured that those free trade agreements are signed up. And, in relation to access to foreign labour under free trade agreements, what we do is ensure that those clauses are consistent with our other international obligations.

Senator Ian Macdonald interjecting—

Opposition senators interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Minister. Order on both sides. Order. Senator Macdonald. Senator Cameron, supplementary question.

Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, the Prime Minister has consistently attacked the Labor opposition leader for fighting for Australian jobseekers. Given the Senate last night amended the ABCC bill to protect Australian job seekers in the construction sector, will the minister confirm that the Prime Minister has had a change of heart and will accept the Senate's amendment and that the opposition leader was right to stand up for Australian jobs?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I said when I was addressing that amendment last night, those of us on this side of the chamber and the Turnbull government firmly believe Australians first. We have always maintained that, when there is an Australian ready, willing and able to undertake a job, they should always be looked to first. But we also believe that, where a business needs to access labour and they are unable to, unlike those on the other side, we are not prepared to stand by and let that business close down.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order. Senator Cameron, a point of order.

Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Again, on relevance. The question was: has the Prime Minister had a change of heart and will he accept the Senate's amendment and that the opposition leader was right to stand up for Australian jobs. Again this minister goes nowhere near these questions.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Again, Senator Cameron, the minister has not addressed your direct question, but she has certainly gone near the question. She is being relevant. I remind the minister that she has 28 seconds in which to respond to the question.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I was saying, those of us on this side of the chamber believe that, where a business is unable to access labour, the last thing we want to see is that business close down, because a business that closes down employs no-one. But the Prime Minister and all of us on this side of the chamber have always been consistent in our comments; we do believe that you should look locally first. (Time expired)

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Cameron, final supplementary question.

Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Why is the Turnbull government intent on making it harder for Australians who are ready, willing and able to undertake work to get a job?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Well, Senator Cameron, we are not. And the passage this morning of the Australian building and construction legislation shows that we are committed to ensuring that we grow our economy. We support our third-largest industry in Australia that employs over 1 million Australians and in which over 300,000 small businesses rely on this industry for their own success. The fact that we have stood up for those businesses and for those industries whilst those opposite did exactly what Michael O'Connor and his CFMEU mates told them to shows that we are committed to standing up for Australians and to ensuring that we have an economy that grows. On this side of the chamber we understand economies that grow create jobs, and that is what we are all about.