John Key: New Zealand will be happy if Australia's China free trade deal fails
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Version 0 of 1. Related: Malcolm Turnbull down to work as Tony Abbott declares he will stay - politics live New Zealand’s prime minister will be “quite happy” if Australia fails to seal its controversial free trade deal with China. The new government under Malcolm Turnbull has fast-tracked legislation for the agreement, trying to pressure Labor – which has concerns it will cost Australian jobs – to lock in the deal. But New Zealand’s John Key told the Australian Financial Review that his country’s trade deal with China had been 11 times greater than the most optimistic estimates and it would be in New Zealand’s competitive interests if Australia’s failed. “I’m a massive proponent of free trade, and the benefits of our FTA have been 11 times greater than the most optimistic estimates,” he said. “The numbers speak for themselves. Having negotiated an agreement that is high quality, you’d like to grab it with both hands. New Zealand will be quite happy if you don’t.” Related: Confused about the China free trade deal? Here's what you need to know Labor said the government was starting to play a “political game” with the China deal, after introducing legislation on Wednesday. A vote can’t be held until after a parliamentary committee hands down its report on the details in mid-October. “Yet they wanted to say ‘oh look we’re upping the ante, we’re putting pressure on’, when they know no one else can speak on the bill [yet],” opposition frontbencher Tony Burke told Sky News. |