Parly should show leadership on migration

Australia's peak business lobby is urging politicians to show leadership in the wake of a union scare campaign about migrants taking jobs.

The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry director Jenny Lambert, who will give evidence on Friday before a Senate inquiry hearing into the temporary work visa program, has seized on a union campaign against the China free trade deal.

"When it comes to (the deal), members of this parliament should sing from the rooftops about the benefits of trade and a strong relationship with our most important trading partner," Ms Lambert will say in her opening statement.