8 May 2016

Providing a decent level of healthcare for all Australians is getting more expensive every year – and the problem is only going to get worse if Australia ratifies the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

May 3, 2016: I first met John in 2004 when he was campaigning with AFTINET against the expansion of medicine monopolies and other unfair proposals in the Australia-US Free Trade Agreement. He continued this fight when he became a Greens NSW MLC, supporting the struggle against the TPP even after his illness was diagnosed. We will miss his principled voice for fair trade, social justice and the environment - Pat Ranald.

3 May 2016

As many Australians focus on tonight's budget, an event in Adelaide will examine the health impacts of a much bigger event for the world's health - the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Read the full article on Croakey here.

2 May 2016

The TPP is a trade deal that sets global rules that will further tip the balance of power into the hands of the already wealthy and big corporations – and away from working people.

AFTINET members united to march against the TPP on May Day and our Convener Dr Pat Ranald spoke at the Sydney event. Read on for a copy of her speech.

30 April 2016

A new draft Productivity Commission report has found that copyright and patent rules agreed to in the Australia-US Free Trade Agreement are costing governments and consumers hundreds of millions of dollars a year. It has also called for a reform of our copyright laws for the benefit of consumers.

The PC report has estimated that the Howard government’s decision to agree to US demands and extend monopoly rights for pharmaceutical companies by an extra five years is currently costing Australian consumers and Governments $250 million annually in higher medicine costs.

30 April 2016

Trade experts including AFTINET’s Convener Dr Patricia Ranald, the Public Health Association’s Dr Belinda Townsend and Dr Kyla Tienhaara from the ANU travelled to Perth to attend Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) stakeholder consultations.

At a lively public forum attended by around 50 people, they warned of the dangers in the RCEP deal, which includes the 10 ASEAN countries plus Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan, India and South Korea.

27 April 2016

A draft Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Intellectual Property chapter was leaked online last week and it raises concerns about access for medicines, especially in low and middle income countries.

The twelfth round of negotiations towards the agreement are currently taking place in Perth.

Dr Belinda Townsend from the Public Health Association of Australia has published a blog on the leaked chapter and its implications for access to medicines, which you can read here.

26 April 2016

The TPP and the TTIP combined have the potential to undercut urgently needed action on climate that the Paris agreement requires, writes Nobel Prize winning economist​ Joseph E. Stiglitz.

Read his opinion piece here.

22 April 2016

At AFTINET's TPP forum at NSW Parliament House on Wednesday, Choice policy and campaigns adviser Sarah Agar spoke about the difficulties consumer advocates will face campaigning for stronger food labelling laws if the TPP is ratified.

“If the TPP goes through with ISDS clauses, then attempts to change country of origin labelling in the future could be challenged by international corporations who don’t want to provide clearer information,” Ms Agar said.

Her presentation got great coverage on news.com.au in an article called 'Get used to ridiculous food labels, like this honey from ... Where exactly?'. Read it here.

Lori Wallach from US Public Citizen addresses AFTINET's TPP forum in Sydney this week by video. She talks about the TPP, the presidential race and the US Congress.