CFMEU TELLS LABOR: BACK COALITION DUMPING PLAN
21-November-2011
The CFMEU is seeking to bring the Labor policy on anti-dumping closer to the Coalition plan and rebuffs claims by Brendan O’Connor, Minister for Home Affairs, and Craig Emerson, Minister for Trade, that the Coalition plan would be in violation of WTO agreements.
In media reports today, Michael O’Connor, National Secretary of the CFMEU warmly supported the Coalition’s plans to reverse the onus of proof in trade disputes. Mr M. O’Connor also refuted Labors claims that this would be in violation of WTO agreements.
Article 7 of the WTO agreement on dumping (to which Australia is a signatory) specifically allows for preliminary affirmative determinations that were the subject of Labor’s criticism; and what neither minister acknowledged was that each of the Coalitions proposed changes are consistent with WTO provisions.
Even more embarrassingly for Mr B. O'Connor and Mr Emerson, the Coalition’s suggested changes of approach to the application of PADs also proved to be entirely consistent with statements that Labor itself made just four months ago.
Mr M. O’Connor of the CFMEU however remains more concerned for industries such as forestry, rather than Labor’s unwarranted negativity, and believes jobs are at risk from dumping.
Given the stance taken by the CFMEU, surely Labor must now reassess their position on anti-dumping, and work constructively to support its closest union allies and adopt the Coalition plan.
The Labor Party should be applauding the Coalition on its ant-dumping policy that will actually work instead of constant negativity.