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Rural groups say no to investor rights to sue governments over regulation of gas mining

More than 70 organisations including 54 regional groups ranging from Mirboo in Victoria, to the Cassowary Coast in North Queensland, to Walgett in NSW, in traditional areas of Coalition support, have endorsed a letter to Trade Minister Andrew Robb. They oppose foreign investor rights to sue governments for damages in international tribunals over environmental regulation of coal seam gas mining.

Read the media release.

Read the letter.

TPPA Seminar in Sydney October 22

AFTINET is hosting a public seminar to be held at NSW Parliament on Tuesday the 22nd of October from 12-2pm.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership endgame: corporate rights or peoples’ rights?
The US, Australia, New Zealand and nine other Pacific Rim countries have been negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPPA) trade agreement for the last three years. The pressure is on to finish the negotiations this year. But the agreement is not mainly about trade.

Details
Date: 22nd October, 12-2pm
Venue: NSW Parliament, Macquarie Room

Please RSVP by COB October 21 to campaign@aftinet.org.au

TPPA Seminar in Melbourne October 15

Trade and Technology: What does the TPPA mean for Australia?

Public discussion of TPPA (Trans-Pacific Partnership) and broader trade related issues on topics ranging from (but not limited to): Digital Rights, Cultural Goods and services, eCommerce, IP, Copyright, Privacy, Biotech and GMO's, Health (and PBS), International Dispute settlement, Export/import markets, including impacts on food production and foreign investment.

Places are limited. Event sponsored by Swinburne University. Register here.

Community groups reject TPPA proposals

Over 40 organisations, including church, public health, pensioner, union, environment and aid and development organisations, have endorsed a letter to the new Trade Minister Andrew Robb expressing strong opposition to proposals in the TPPA on investor rights to sue governments, access to medicines, copyright, Australian media content and food labelling and urging him to reject these proposals.

See the letter here.

Send a message to the Minister for Trade re: TPPA

Posted by clare on Monday, 16 September 2013

With the change in government in Australia there has been a change in trade policy. The new government will be open to allowing foreign companies to sue governments for damages if their policies or laws are seen to harm their investment

These clauses, called 'investor state dispute settlement,' or ISDS, would reduce the ability of governments to regulate the activities of foreign companies even when they have a negative impact on health and the environment.

To express your concern, send a letter to the Trade Minister, asking him to reject ISDS and any proposal which would affect public health, access to information, our cultural industries and food labelling regulations in the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

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Workers speak out about TPPA

The global union movement has produced a short video of workers in all of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPPA) countries discussing the impact of the free trade agreement.

Workers from around the world speak out about downward pressure on wages and labour rights, more polluted air and water, reduced access to life saving medicines, and more powerful corporations influencing our laws and trying to override our voices.

They have also created a petition targeting all the countries participating in the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Sign the petition here.

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