Sarah Henderson (Corangamite, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Once again this year, it was a pleasure to host our stand at the Colac Show. It was a terrific success. One of the big talking points, particularly amongst dairy farmers, was our China-Australia Free Trade Agreement. It will open up significant new opportunities. Tariffs of up to 20 per cent will be progressively eliminated. Tariffs on ice cream and infant formula, for instance, will go within four years. But, at the Colac Show, there was plenty of disgust all around at the dishonest campaign that was being run by Labor and the unions over ChAFTA. Even after Labor conceded that ChAFTA was good for jobs and our economic future, and joined with us to pass the enabling legislation in this place, the union movement continued with its dishonest and unethical campaign.

After the ACTU set up a fake debate knowing that I could not attend, it then proceeded to lie to its own members by claiming that I would be attending. In automated robocalls it then compounded that lie by claiming that I had not shown up, simply to disparage me and our government. Today, I call on the President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, Ged Kearney, who made those calls to apologise for her dishonest and unethical conduct. If she will not apologise, she should seriously consider resigning. Unions play an important role in our community. Rather than play these partisan games, they must show ethical and honest leadership.