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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/jan/07/brexit-australian-trade-minister-cant-imagine-visa-free-travel-deal-with-uk
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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Brexit: Australian trade minister 'can't imagine' visa-free travel deal with UK | Brexit: Australian trade minister 'can't imagine' visa-free travel deal with UK |
| (2 days later) | |
| ‘Unfettered movement’ not likely to feature in post-Brexit talks, says Simon Birmingham | ‘Unfettered movement’ not likely to feature in post-Brexit talks, says Simon Birmingham |
| Australia has ruled out a post-Brexit trade deal involving visa-free travel and work arrangements with the UK. | Australia has ruled out a post-Brexit trade deal involving visa-free travel and work arrangements with the UK. |
| The country’s trade minister, Simon Birmingham, said he “can’t imagine full and unfettered free movement” would be on the table during negotiations. | The country’s trade minister, Simon Birmingham, said he “can’t imagine full and unfettered free movement” would be on the table during negotiations. |
| “We’re not into full negotiating mode and we will have to see what the UK aspires to, but noting that work rights and movement of people in the UK has been a big part of the European Union debate, I would be surprised if complete liberalisation around migration and labour rights was on their agenda,” Birmingham said during an interview in London with the Sydney Morning Herald. | “We’re not into full negotiating mode and we will have to see what the UK aspires to, but noting that work rights and movement of people in the UK has been a big part of the European Union debate, I would be surprised if complete liberalisation around migration and labour rights was on their agenda,” Birmingham said during an interview in London with the Sydney Morning Herald. |
| His remarks follow suggestions by the UK international trade secretary, Liz Truss, during a visit to Australia in September of a deal to allow British citizens to live and work in the country visa-free. | His remarks follow suggestions by the UK international trade secretary, Liz Truss, during a visit to Australia in September of a deal to allow British citizens to live and work in the country visa-free. |
| Australia already has a free-movement deal with New Zealand. | Australia already has a free-movement deal with New Zealand. |
| About 120,000 Australians live in the UK, while 636,000 UK nationals were granted tourist, business or temporary visas in Australia in the last financial year. | About 120,000 Australians live in the UK, while 636,000 UK nationals were granted tourist, business or temporary visas in Australia in the last financial year. |
| Australians can visit the UK for less than six months without a visa but British tourists need one to enter Australia. | Australians can visit the UK for less than six months without a visa but British tourists need one to enter Australia. |
| Senator Birmingham said he expected possible tweaks to existing immigration rules to allow “more flexibility”, but stressed his priority was trade. | Senator Birmingham said he expected possible tweaks to existing immigration rules to allow “more flexibility”, but stressed his priority was trade. |
| “Negotiations for an FTA [free-trade agreement] between Australia and the UK will prioritise enhancing trade with a market that is already our eighth-largest trading partner. | “Negotiations for an FTA [free-trade agreement] between Australia and the UK will prioritise enhancing trade with a market that is already our eighth-largest trading partner. |
| “Work and visa settings may also form part of discussions but it is important to appreciate that there is a huge spectrum of grey between the black and white of no movement or unfettered movement. | “Work and visa settings may also form part of discussions but it is important to appreciate that there is a huge spectrum of grey between the black and white of no movement or unfettered movement. |
| “Once talks are launched with the UK we will work through all of these issues in the usual way,” he said | “Once talks are launched with the UK we will work through all of these issues in the usual way,” he said |
| The UK is Australia’s eighth-largest trading partner, with two-way trade valued at A$26.9bn (£14bn) in 2018. Britain is also the second-largest source of total foreign investment in Australia. | The UK is Australia’s eighth-largest trading partner, with two-way trade valued at A$26.9bn (£14bn) in 2018. Britain is also the second-largest source of total foreign investment in Australia. |
| • This article was amended on 8 January 2020. An earlier version said Simon Birmingham feared visa-free travel would prompt a brain drain from Australia and an influx of low-skilled workers to some Australian cities. This stemmed from an incorrect media report from Sydney. The reference has been removed. |