Indonesia - Australia FTA

Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership

Negotiations for the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership (IACEPA) began in 2016 and the agreement was signed on March 4, 2019. Major issues include ISDS  (rights for foreign corporations to sue governments) and increased numbers of temporary migrant workers vulnerable to exploitation. The enabling legislation for the agreement was passed by the Parliament in October 2019 and the agreement has been ratified by Australia. As of January 2020, the Indonesian Parliament was still considering ratification.

See our submission to the  August 2019 JSCOT inquiry here ,  Dr Patricia Ranald's explainer published in The Conversation and a joint statement on ISDS from AFTINET and the Global Justice Indonesia.


 

Economist argues against Australia joining trade deals that undermine sovereignty

October 31, 2019: A new article by Richard Denniss, chief economist at The Australia Institute, argues against Australia signing free trade agreements that undermine our sovereignty. Denniss calls out the hypocrisy of the Morrison government that has ratcheted up populist rhetoric while signing up to agreements that grant excessive rights to international investors at the expense of the Australian community.

Media Release: AFTINET fears that assurances sought by Labor will not prevent harmful impacts from Indonesia and other trade deals

October 17, 2019: Media Release “Labor has decided to approve the enabling legislation for the Indonesia, Hong Kong and Peru agreements despite the fact that they contain damaging provisions that are contrary Labor policies, in return for some fairly weak assurances from the government that may not be delivered,” AFTINET Convener Dr Patricia Ranald said today.

ACTU polling reveals community opposition to trade agreements that undermine workers’ rights and government sovereignty

October 9, 2019: Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) polling in the seats of Bass, Brand, Corio, Hunter and Rankin reveals 75 - 80 per cent of voters oppose trade agreements that allow additional work visas without first testing if local workers can fill available jobs and that include Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provisions that give corporations the right to sue governments for policy decisions that impact on their profit.

AFTINET and Indonesia for Global Justice release joint statement on the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement

October 8, 2019: AFTINET and Indonesia for Global Justice have come together to oppose the inclusion of investor rights to sue governments in the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.

Indonesia trade deal faces Senate hurdles

September 26, 2019: The Canberra Times and SBS news have reported that the Australia-Indonesia trade deal could face Senate opposition after key cross benchers, including the Greens, Centre Alliance and One Nation expressed concerns about aspects of the deal, including provisions for an additional 5000 temporary seasonal fruit and vegetable pickers each year who are vulnerable to wage theft and other forms of exploitation.

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