We’ve been here before and, sadly, we’ll be here in the future: a government is hyping the benefits of a preferential trade deal.
As usual, big numbers are being thrown around about Australia’s trade agreement with the European Union: “$30 trillion economy … total investment stock worth $869.3 billion … 27 European countries … 450 million consumers,” according to Anthony Albanese and right-wing Labor powerbroker Don Farrell.
The transparency-averse Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, which always spruiks the trade deals it has negotiated with large numbers, says the agreement “could increase Australia’s real GDP by up to $7.8