PRIME Minister Julia Gillard is under pressure to halt a flood of illegal Chinese imports amid warnings that up to a million jobs are at risk.  

Fresh divisions have emerged in Labor, with three powerful union leaders calling for tough "anti-dumping" laws to prevent China selling below-cost goods here.

Thousands of jobs have already been lost, with manufacturing firms struggling to compete against foreign companies selling a raft of products including steel, timber, paper, aluminium and glass.  

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has also jumped on the anti-China campaign, demanding a "fair go for Australian industries and jobs".

The debate over dumping is set to divide the Gillard Government.

Senior government sources admit there is "widespread anxiety" about the impact of cheap imports on local manufacturing.  


Launching a public campaign yesterday, the Australian Workers Union, Australian Manufacturing Workers Union and Construction, Forestry and Mining Union called for an overhaul of anti-dumping laws.

"We shouldn't allow the Chinese Government to dictate how our economy is run," said AWU national secretary Paul Howes.

"I want political leaders in Canberra, not Beijing, to determine the way Australia should be run."

Cabinet will consider the issue in the lead-up to the May Budget.



Comments on this story

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     rc Posted at 7:35 AM Today

         ad this is the prime minister that has just allowed N Z apples into australia that will cost australian jobs what a bloody joke this un elected leader by the people is

<<Oh well, I suppose no one can complain, when people line up at the centrelink office.>>


Poor crook, it means he will just have to wait longer to hand his form in.

Your telling me, I just bought $15,000 worth of building supplies being mostly steel and it was a monza cheaper buying the imported steel over the Australian one, and whats even funnier is its our iron ore shipped over there to make it.

Makes you wonder how we can dig it out of the ground, put it on a boat, send it thousands upon thousands of kilometres away, have it turned into steel then shipped thousands upon thousands of kilometres back and its still cheaper. 

Because the Aussie companies making it here are ripping us off.

When I save $7k on the imported stuff, remind me again why I should buy the Australian made stuff thats exactly the same?

culldav wrote on Feb 17^th, 2011 at 8:47am:



a short time ago people like crook were raving on about how good it was for us to buy on line and skip the middle man like Myers or DJ... it look to me the only time it hurts the unions is when it affects them directly.. if they lose a million jobs look at all that union money not coming in any more..


verge I hope the quality of what you have bought stands up.. I have foundthing I have bought from Aldi for instance have not been up to scratch quality wise..I bought a cheap.[granted] stick gadget for blending soup and it went rusty. to be honest I am finding a lot of things made in China are a bit rubbish t/shirts go all out of shape,cotton underwear doesnt last as long. but looking for something that isnt made in China is a pain.

how do we make this country work if we buy everything from overseas..its fruit and veg next.

just touring around .. from shopping to McDonald , KFC .. all jobs for Oz young people are now taken by foreigners . . that's how the game is .. in the hands of lib and lab