Fantastic AFTINET Trade Justice Dinner

Ninety-five enthusiastic AFTINET supporters came out to Sydney's Cyprus Club for the 2023 Trade Justice Dinner on May 16 to support the campaigns that AFTINET organises for trade policy that promotes human rights, labour rights and environmental sustainability.

It is four years since the last AFTINET Trade Justice Dinner, and the event became a great celebration of our collective effort, with people making the most of the opportunity to talk to each other, learn more about AFTINET, and find ways to contribute financially to its work. It was AFTINET's best fundraising event ever.

The Guest Speaker, Assistant Trade Minister Senator Tim Ayres, had to make his speech via video after being directed to go to Papua New Guinea at short notice. He outlined Labor's trade policy priorities and acknowleged AFTINET's role in influencing  trade policy including on Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS). He drew applause in the middle of his speech for Labor's commitment to end ISDS provisions in future trade agreements and to review it in existing trade agreements,

AFTINET Convenor Dr Patricia Ranald told the gathering about the current campaigns and challenges, with a focus on ISDS, the outrageous $300 billion ISDS claim against Australia by Clive Palmer, and the significance of the current Indo-Pacific Economic Framework talks initiated by the United States. He speech is here.

Rob Long, TAFE Division, NSW Teachers Federation, was a marvellous MC, and former Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon did the honours in drawing the raffle winners.