Tony Abbott says Britain can get a zero tariff free trade deal with Australia by the end of 2020
BRITAIN can get a zero tariff free trade deal with Australia by the end of the year, the former Aussie PM claims.
Tony Abbott flew to London and hit back at critics of his envoy role representing the UK on the Board of Trade.
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Confirming job talks, he told MPs he was “more than happy to help” and said it was be in Britain’s and Australia’s interests to do a deal quickly.
Mr Abbott said he would be doing the job in his capacity as a private citizen but added he had the backing of current Australian Premier Scott Morrison to take the new role.
After The Sun revealed the star on the newly revamped body tasked with drumming up support for Brexit Britain, the forthright right-winger faced a barrage of condemnation for his views on climate, migration and women.
Today the Chair of the Commons Equalities Commission Caroline Noakes branded Mr Abbott “a misogynist” adding “is he the sort of man I want representing us globally? No”.
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The former Cabinet Minister told the BBC: “This is such a bad idea. I’m not sure I can come up with words for how awful it is.”
But Mr Abbott hit back: “If you have convictions you’ll draw criticism but if you want to get things done you need people with convictions.”
Asked about his new role, Mr Abbott said: “All I can really say at this time is that it would be in both Britain’s interests and Australia’s interests to conclude a very full and comprehensive free trade deal between our two countries as quickly as possible.”
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