The Abbott government has nearly doubled the amount of money it will spend on market research designed to underpin a campaign selling the benefits of free trade agreements signed with China, Japan and South Korea.
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The spending has quietly increased from $275,000 to $499,290 since September 1, with two amendments made to the contract for "additional services" and a "change to the scope of the work".
Ad giant Taylor Nelson Sofres is providing "Market research services for the free trade agreement campaign development and delivery" under the contract.
The increased spending comes as the federal government has endured a sustained attack by Labor and the union movement over claims that the free trade agreement with China does not provide sufficient safeguards for Australian workers.
Labor wants greater protection for Australian jobs, particularly on projects worth more than $150 million, and legislation to ensure stricter labour market testing.
It also comes as the federal government on Thursday attempted to rebrand the agreement a "China-Australia export agreement", as opposed to a free trade agreement, drawing derision from the Labor opposition during question time.
Trade Minister Andrew Robb warned on Thursday that China could walk away from the deal with Australia if its introduction is delayed, costing the nation billions in extra revenue.
Labor trade spokeswoman Penny Wong said the federal opposition hoped taxpayers "weren't slugged for yesterday's hare-brained idea the China FTA should be re-branded the China 'export agreement'."
"We support a China FTA that delivers jobs for Australians. The China FTA needs safeguards, not taxpayer-funded advertising. It won't cost money to fix the problem, but it will require Tony Abbott to stop acting like a political brawler and start acting like a prime minister," she said.
Mr Robb played down the additional spending on market research, arguing there are funds allocated for promotion of the free trade deals in the budget.
"There are very clear guidelines around advertising activities and that includes providing factual information that the public will find useful and to achieve this you have to do your market research," he said.
Mr Robb said the Labor Party had benefited from the "entirely dishonest $12 million CFMEU campaign that was being waged against the China FTA which was aimed at removing the government and deflecting attention from the almost daily reports of rorts, rip offs and thuggery being revealed by the royal commission".
"Penny doesn't seem to have any problems with appalling and dishonest union ads being run everywhere suggesting the China FTA will result in houses burning down and people losing their jobs en mass, which are complete lies," Mr Robb said.
