AFTINET and six public health organizations today urged the Abbott Government to reject proposals in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPPA) to increase monopoly privileges for drug companies which would increase medicine prices by delaying access to cheaper generic medicine.
Professor Matthew Rimmer criticises Coalition trade policy, TPPA secrecy and proposals for foreign investors to sue governments.
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.
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
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.
AFTINET's Dr Patricia Ranald was interviewed about the Abbott government's policy on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPPA) and investor rights to sue governments on the ABC Radio National program PM
Mike Seccombe's Global Mail article critically analyses the Abbott Government's policy to negotiate rights for foreign investors to sue governments and quotes AFTINET Convener Dr Patricia Ranald
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.
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.
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.