Shorten odds on trade deal

Oz farmers are keen to have the deal endorsed by Parliament and brought into effect by the end of 2015. With the mining downturn, the bumbling Oz economy needs a kickstart.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten says he supports the deal but his party will not compromise on Australian jobs. But some Labour stalwarts are peeling away from Shorten on this issue and the Opposition leader may soon fall in line.

There’s now talk that China could walk away and look elsewhere. Oh dear!