Korea-Australia FTA

The Korea-Australia FTA (KAFTA)

The KAFTA Implementing legislation was passed on October 1, 2014 and the agreement came into force on December 12, 2014. AFTINET opposed this agreement because it was negotiated in secret, included special rights for foreign investors to sue governments over domestic legislation (ISDS), removed labour market testing for temporary migrant workers and contained only weak labour and environmental standards which were not enforceable. The tariff reductions were unbalanced and the economic study did not take account of employment impacts in manufacturing industry. See AFTINET's submission to Parliamentary inquiries here.

ALP MP Melissa Parke's speech against the Korea FTA

The Parliamentary debate on the Korea Australia FTA is now on. Read the speech by ALP MP Melissa Park, one of the authors of the dissenting report which rejected the agreement.

http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22chamber%2Fhansardr%2Fcf028b00-427a-488c-8c92-2792de44c147%2F0370%22

Email Shadow Trade Minister Penny Wong

As you know, the Korea Free Trade Agreement (KAFTA) contains an insidious ISDS clause, which allows Korean investors to sue Australian governments over policies which they claim to 'harm' their investment. Send Senator Wong an email now asking the ALP to implement their policy against ISDS and to oppose KAFTA in the Senate.

ALP and Greens MPs reject Korea Free Trade Agreement after Parliamentary Committee review

The Joint Standing Committee on Treaties issued conflicting reports in its review of the Korea Australia Free Trade agreement (KAFTA), which were tabled in Parliament on August 4, 2014.

Senate Inquiry reveals community opposition and dangers of foreign investor rights to sue governments despite claimed “safeguards”

by Dr Patricia Ranald, Research Associate, University of Sydney and Convenor, Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network

Radio National: How foreign investors can trump Australian law

This week, the Senate Committee Inquiry has been hearing submissions into the bill proposed by Senator Whish-Wilson to ban the right for foreign investors to sue governments (ISDS) from trade agreements.

Tom Faunce was interviewed on Radio National Saturday Extra programme and is very critical of these ISDS provisions.

Listen to the interview on Radio National here.

19/08/2014

Dr Ranald on Investor-State Dispute Settlement

AFTINET's Convener, Dr Patricia Ranald, gave evidence to the Senate Committee for Foreign Affairs Defense & Trade on the 6th August 2014 about the dangers of investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) in trade agreements.

Korea-Australia Free Trade Agreement (KAFTA)

The KAFTA Implementing legislation was passed on October 1, 2014 and the agreement came into force on December 12, 2014. AFTINET oppose this agreement because it was negotiated in secret, included special rights for foreign investors to sue governments over domestic legislation (ISDS), removed labour market testing for temporary migrant workers and contained only weak labour and environmental standards which were not enforceable. The tariff reductions were unbalanced and the economic study did not take account of employment impacts in manufacturing industry. See AFTINET's submission to Parliamentary inquiries here.

Want to do more? Contact your other Senators

Already emailed the suggested Senator from your state and want to do more? All Senators will have to vote on the KAFTA implementing legislation, so please send a copy of the letter to the other Senators in your state. Click on your state below:

NSW - VIC - QLD - SA - WA - TAS - ACT - NT

Take Action: Email your Senator!

Korean companies could sue our governments over health or environmental legislation under the Korea-Australia Free Trade Agreement (KAFTA).

Take action! Click on your state to send an email asking your Senator to vote against the implementing legislation:

NSW - VIC - QLD - SA - WA - TAS - ACT - NT

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Korea-Australia FTA

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