Tony Abbott has a reputation for breaking promises - and safeguards in Australia's temporary migration system may be set to become the latest.

Last year, Abbott said the government would retain labour market testing – the requirement that employers show they cannot find suitable local workers before they use temporary migrants.

The point of freeing up trade is to improve local job opportunities - not to constrain them, says Senator Penny Wong. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

But when the government unveiled its free trade agreement with China, it became clear that this undertaking was dispensable.

Labor supports greater economic engagement with China and the other rising economies of Asia.