TPPA Campaign: Take Action at the Melbourne Round of Negotiations 1st-10th March 2011
Latest TPPA News:
The 11th Round of Negotiations of the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement is taking place in Melbourne from 1st March to 9th March 2012. Australian government policy, recently amended at the ALP conference, should mean that it refuses demands to reduce our health, environmental and cultural regulation, and supports enforceable labour rights and environmental protections. But there is enormous pressure from the US to reach the agreement.
There must be a strong voice from unions and community groups at the negotiations to ensure that the policy is implemented without concessions and so AFTINET has organised a number of events around the 11th Round of Negotiations at Melbourne to make sure this happens.
These events are open to the general public and we encourage you to take part and spread the word throughout your networks so we have as many people as possible come along.
For more information on how to participate in the upcoming Melbourne Round events, follow this link.
TPPA Campaign: don’t trade away vital social policies
TPPA Latest News:
December 2011 - Campaign victory: Fair Trade amendments to the ALP Platform
Our campaign for fair trade had an impact at the ALP National Conference, held at Darling Harbour from 2nd-3rd December 2011.
The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, a member of AFTINET, moved amendments to the trade section of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) platform, which is the public statement of the party's policy.
Although the platform still has a strong commitment to free trade, it now has for the first time a commitment to enforceable labour rights and environmental protections in trade agreements.
For more information
follow this link to our TPPA campaign page.
November 2011 - Pacific Trade Pact misses APEC deadline as community groups slam US proposals on medicines and corporate rights
“The APEC meeting in Hawaii was meant to conclude the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, a new free trade deal between the US, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Peru, Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam. But the deal has been delayed because of controversial proposals tabled by the US, and negotiations will continue into 2012,” Dr Patricia Ranald, Convener of the Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network of 60 community groups (AFTINET), said today.
For more information follow this link to our TPPA campaign page.
For a full copy of the media release follow this link.
Latest TPPA Media:
Sydney Morning Herald - Beware the limits of latest free trade deal - 15/11/2011 - available from: http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/beware-the-limits-of-latest-free-trade-deal-20111115-1ngax.html#ixzz1dsDeL5Ud
Pacific Island News Agency (PINA) - Pacific free-trade deal has hidden dangers: NGO - 15/11/2011 - available from: http://www.pina.com.fj/index.php?p=pacnews&m=read&o=17001637594ec1883b4b3951b118c4
ABC Radio - PACBeat Program: Pacific warned of hidden dangers in Obama's new TPP push - 14/11/2011 - available from: http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/pacbeat/stories/201111/s3364650.htm
ABC Radio: Pacific free-trade deal has hidden dangers: NGO - 14/11/2011 - available from: http://australianetworknews.com/stories/201111/3364548.htm?desktop
Crikey - Beware of what lurks beneath free trade agreements - 14/11/2011- available from: From: http://www.crikey.com.au/2011/11/14/beware-of-what-lurks-beneath-free-trade-agreements/
ABC Radio: Pacific free trade deal divides commentators - 14/11/2011 - available from: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-14/pacific-free-trade-deal-divides-commentators/3666280?section=business
SBS Radio - World News Program: Momentum for new free-trade regime - 14/11/2011 - available from: http://www.sbs.com.au/podcasts/Podcasts/radionews/episode/192473/Momentum-for-new-free-trade-regime
Philippine Star - APEC: Still nothing after two decades - 14/11/2011 - available from: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=747771&publicationSubCategoryId=66
ABC Radio - PM Program: Trans-Pacific free trade stalled by US proposals - 11/11/2011 - available from: http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2011/s3362855.htm
For other media reports on the AFTINET Campaign
follow this link to read them. TPPA Resources:
TPPA resources, including important websites and information are available on our
TPPA resources page by following this link.
What you can do in the TPPA Campaign:
Check back regularly and follow the links below to take action and to find out more about the campaign.
You can place a link to the AFTINET website on your Facebook, personal internet or other social media page and urge people to follow the link and sign the petition. Copy this link and place it on your page: www.aftinet.org.au.
You can place a link to the AFTINET Face Book page on your Facebook, personal internet or other social media page and urge people to follow the link and sign the petition. Copy this link and place it on your page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Aftinet/219004528130731?sk=wall
You can send an email directly to Trade Minister Dr Craig Emerson by following this link.
You can download and send a letter to Trade Minister Dr Craig Emerson by following this link.
You can organise a visit to your local Member of Parliament to let them know your concerns about the TPPA, use the Community Education Leaflet as a talking point.
Phillip Morris fights Plain Packaging Proposals.
AFTINET has called upon the Australian government should stand firm on tobacco plain packaging legislation, and withdraw from restrictive treaties.
“The move by Philip Morris tobacco company to sue the Australian government using an obscure bilateral investment treaty with Hong Kong shows the dangers of signing trade or investment treaties which could give corporations the right to sue governments over legitimate health or other public interest regulation,” Dr Patricia Ranald, Convener of the Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network said today.
For copy of the media release follow this link to download.
ANU Academic Dr Kyla Teinhaara has written an op-ed published in the Canberra Times in response to Phillip Morris lodgeing its suit. The op-ed is available from: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/opinion/editorial/general/air-of-intrigue-in-move-against-plain-packaging/2368972.aspx.
ANU Academics Dr Kyla Teinhaara and Associate Professor Thomas Faunce have had an op-ed published in the Canberra Times on this subject. Follow this link to read the article. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/opinion/editorial/general/gillard-must-repel-big-tobaccos-latest-attack/2209168.aspx?storypage=0.
La Trobe University Academics Deborah Gleeson and Associate Professor David Legge have written an article on this subject which appears on "The Conversation" website. Follow this link to read the article.http://theconversation.edu.au/big-tobacco-v-australia-dangers-looming-in-the-trans-pacific-partnership-agreement-1943.
PACER-Plus
Latest Pacer Plus Media:
Will Australia and New Zealand really allow sovereignty to Pacific Countries on Trade Decisions
AFTINET and AID/WATCH released a joint media statement on 12th September calling on the Australian government to reflect on the outcomes of the Pacific Island Leaders meeting and honour the sovereignty of the Pacific Island Countries. For a copy of the media release follow this link.
NGOs tell Australia to Respect Island Country Sovereignty – Australia Risks its Reputation in the Pacific. The Pacific Network on Globalisation (PANG) and AFTINET released a joint media statement on 2nd September calling on the Australian government to respect the sovereignty of the Pacific Island Countries. For a copy of the media release follow this link.
For more detail and reports follow this link to our PACER-Plus Campaign page.
India-Australia FTA - Submissions due by 16th September, 2011.
DFAT have extended the deadline for submissions on the proposed India-Australia FTA with a new closing date of Friday 16th September 2011. We encourage members to make submissions.
A copy of the AFTINET submission is available by following this link.
For more informaiton follow this link to our India-Australia FTA Page.
WTO -Update
AFTINET has been active as usual in 2011 on the negotiations undertaken in the WTO.
On 17th November 2011 AFTINET sent a letter requesting that the Minister commit Australia to WTO reform which:
- Facilitates Financial Stability not financial Deregulation
- Focuses on Jobs and Industrial Development policy space
- Maintains the right to protect policy space for development
- Provides Access to Affordable Health and Medicines
- Supports Food Security and Sovereignty
- Protects Biodiversity and Bans the Patenting of Life
- Acknowledges that WTO is not the venue for establishing climate change policy
For a copy of the letter follow this link.
For more information and materials please follow this link to our WTO Campaign Page.
Australian Trade Policy Review Released:
Robin Hood Tax Campaign:
Reckless deregulation of financial services, encouraged by some free trade agreements, contributed to the GFC. Governments must have full rights to regulate financial institutions in the public interest, not limited by free trade agreements. A Robin Hood tax would slow speculation and raise much needed revenue.
You can now send an email to Australian Treasurer Wayne Swan from the Robin Hood Tax website
Follow this link to our webpage on the campaign or this link to the Robin Hood Tax website:
