Shadow Industrial Relations Minister Tony Burke says Labor supports the federal government’s decision to cancel Victoria’s Belt and Road deal but says the government has an obligation to ensure “we’re spreading our risk” when it comes to trade.
“It works both ways, not only is it the case the federal government gets the power to cancel agreements, it also puts the obligation on the federal government, clearly, to be delivering trade outcomes,” he said.
“We have the problem at the moment that Australia is more reliant on trade with China than we ever have been.
“There is a real obligation as part of announcements like today for the government to be making sure we are spreading our risk as a nation so we don’t find the economy is overly dependent on a single market”.
Questions over Hunt flagging vaccination may not equal open international borders15/04/2021|2min
Shadow Industrial Relations Minister Tony Burke says he would like to “hear more” from Health Minister Greg Hunt following his suggestion a fully vaccinated population will not necessarily equal open international borders.
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Labor welcomes Menulog s new employment model15/04/2021|5min
Shadow Industrial Relations Minister Tony Burke has welcomed Menulog’s decision to pay drivers a minimum wage.
The food delivery giant agreed to pay drivers the minimum wage and superannuation contributions as part of an Australian first pilot program.
“We cannot go on with a situation of people being paid below minimum standards in Australia,” Mr Burke told Sky News.
“It just can’t continue. We’re not that sort of country.”
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Health advice on lockdowns informed by success of rollout15/04/2021|5min
Shadow Industrial Relations Minister Tony Burke says the medical advice premiers will rely on when it comes to potential further lockdowns and domestic border closures will be informed by the successes or failures of the vaccine rollout. You have a direct health outcome that will affect the medical advice that the premiers will then rely on,” he said.
“So I don’t think we can approach it as a political negotiation. It has to be based on the medical advice.
“We know without any doubt the medical advice is going to be informed by whether or not the Morrison government has delivered on the vaccination program and at the moment they haven’t .
Shadow Industrial Relations Minister Tony Burke says the Morrison government have not been able to follow through on their vaccine rollout promises pointing to a lack of aptitude for the task at hand.
Only 670,000 people have been vaccinated in Australia despite a federal target to vaccinate four million by the end of March.
Reports indicate only one-third of residential aged and disability care facilities in Australia have received COVID-19 vaccinations.
Mr Burke said, “I accept this government is brilliant at the announcement. They’re sharp, they’re slick, they do the advertising”.
“But when it comes to the delivery what we are seeing is bumbling, bungling incompetence.”