news, local-news, Steelmaking, free trade agreement, TPP, Trans Pacific Partnership

The future of steelmaking in Wollongong could be seriously jeopardised by the "dodgy" free trade agreement with China, South Coast Labour Council secretary Arthur Rorris says. The agreement was signed by the federal government last month and Mr Rorris said that this and an upcoming "Trans Pacific Partnership" agreement would impact on Australian workers. Crucial among Mr Rorris' concerns are the inclusion of clauses that would allow Chinese businesses that are based here to sue Australia if the government favours local industry. This would be a serious blow to Mr Rorris's push to get the Australian government to mandate the use of local steel in taxpayer-funded infrastructure projects. "If we have any hope of retaining our local steel industry and local jobs it's imperative that any trade agreements do not stop Australian governments, on behalf of their people, buying Australian," Mr Rorris said. "This could stand in the way of what we want, which is a Buy Australian Act of Parliament similar to what the Americans have. "Since 1933 the Americans have had a Buy American Act, which means that all of their infrastructure and goods and services that are bought using taxpayers' money in America, 50 per cent of that has to come from local industries. We want something similar in Australia to support our industries." Mr Rorris said the agreement as it stood would allow multi-national companies to set up in Australia, bring in their own workforce and pay them as little as $2 an hour. "You compete with that," Mr Rorris said. "But it's not really about competition, it's about taking over jobs. That's why we say it's not about free trade, it's about a free kick. And the free kick is against Australia." Mr Rorris said the South Coast Labour Council was looking to oppose the agreements. "The time for action has come for every politician to choose: say no to job-destroying trade agreements or bow to the big end of town," he said.

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