Prime Minister Tony Abbott says the government will fight for the free trade deal with China with the same determination it showed in torpedoing Labor's carbon tax.
Mr Abbott said trade meant jobs, more trade meant more jobs, and more jobs meant more prosperity - it was as simple as that.
Addressing the Tasmania Liberal Party State Council, he said the state well knew the benefits that could flow from the deal following the visit of China President Xi Jinping last year.
"I give you this pledge - we will fight just as hard to say yes to the China free trade agreement as we fought to say no to the carbon tax," he told the party faithful.
Mr Abbott said the deal promised that more than 95 per cent of Australian exports to China would be duty-free but Labor and the construction workers' union CFMEU were saying no.
"Bill Shorten needs to worry about the company he is keeping," he said.
"Whenever he moves, it's the CFMEU that is pulling the strings. Whenever he opens his mouth it's the CFMEU that you hear."
Mr Abbott said the trade deal would set up Australia for decades.
"This is a remarkably good deal for Australia," he said.
"It doesn't involve changing workplace relations laws. It doesn't involve changing any migration laws. It doesn't involve reducing existing labour market testing and labour market protection."
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