Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I, and also on behalf of Senator Steele-John, move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes with deep concern that:

  (i) Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) have created a parallel industrial relations system where corporations write their own rules, and

  (ii) in the last ten years FTAs have seen an erosion of labour standards, and a failure to include protections for human rights and the environment;

(b) calls on the Government to seek to renegotiate FTAs which:

  (i) fail to mandate labour market testing which undermines local jobs and industry,

  (ii) create a parallel industrial relations system which undermines workers' rights and conditions, and

  (iii) leave temporary migrant workers extremely vulnerable to exploitation; and

(c) should the Government fail to renegotiate these FTAs, calls on the Government to withdraw Australia from these damaging FTAs.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Approximately one in five Australian workers are employed in a trade-related activity. Australian exporting businesses on average hire 23 per cent more staff and pay 11 per cent higher wages. Nothing in Australia's free trade agreements change Australia's workplace laws, nor do FTAs allow for the exploitation of workers. Nothing in our FTAs allows for foreign workers to work without the licensing or registration required under Australian laws. Nothing in Australia's FTAs erode our stance on environmental and human rights protections. FTAs were a major reason why in 2019 Australia recorded our largest-ever amount exported in a calendar year of more than $493 billion.

Question negatived.

Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—Mr President, under the standing orders I ask that the Greens obvious support for this motion be recorded and that the opposition of both major parties also be recorded.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No; the provisions allow for votes in favour to be recorded. People can extrapolate from that who was not in favour. Does anyone else wish to have their vote on that motion recorded?

Rex Patrick (SA, Centre Alliance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—Centre Alliance would like to be recorded as supporting the motion.

Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—One Nation wishes to have its support for that motion recorded, please.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank senators. That is a lot quicker than a division!