Yet a 2013 Parliamentary agreement, ensuring labour market testing of temporary migrant worker programs, was bypassed by the Abbott government.

Now low-skilled and lower skill English-speaking labour will be approved before local workers, and for projects over $150 million Chinese corporations will be able to bring their own workforce.

Article 10.4 of the ChAFTA says there will be no requirement for “labour market testing, economic needs testing or other procedures of similar effect as a condition of temporary entry” for Chinese workers.

Liberal Senator Bill Heffernan says “Australians deserve to know the details”.

Conservative Senator John Madigan says “there is no doubt aspects of the China FTA will cost Australian jobs and make Australian workplaces less safe”.

The Transpacific Partnership agreement with investor state dispute settlements, including the US, Australia and Pacific rim countries, is being secretly negotiated by 600 US corporations and their lawyers and widely opposed by civil society.

The inclusion of investor state dispute settlements gives foreign shareholders sovereign rights to sue against public interest regulations, for “projected” future loss of profits, foreshadows unprecedented corporate power.

Moreover, leaked chapters reveal only five of the 29 chapters are about trade; the rest are about regulating labour.

According to the Australian Medical Association “. . . the TPP has greater potential to affect domestic health policy”, eg US “industry” would legally participate in Australian anti-obesity policy.

Accusations of “xenophobia” and a “rabid” campaign against the ChAFTA and the TPP are spurious.

Mr Hendy, the promise of equal, safe and transparent trade agreements cannot be substantiated.

Maureen Searson

Catalina