Ten Devils In The Detail of the US Free Trade Agreement

Free Trade Agreement Can Be Stopped

"The US FTA is a bad deal for Australia and can still be stopped" says Dr Patricia Ranald, Policy Manager at the Public Interest Advocacy Centre and Convenor of the Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network (AFTINET) .

"We will use the next three months of Parliamentary inquiries to expose the devils in the detail like higher costs for medicines and less Australian content in new forms of media. Howard and Bush may have a signing ceremony in May, but the USFTA will still be conditional on the implementing legislation, and we will be urging the Senate to block it when it comes up for voting after June".

Also speaking at the NSW Parliament House launch of Ten Devils in the Detail of the USFTA, Dr Peter Sainsbury, President of the Public Health Association of Australia outlined the threats to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

"The US FTA gives drug companies the right seek reviews of decisions under the PBS if their drugs are not listed and to seek price increases after they are listed. It also sets up a joint committee with the US to review health policy. The US Trade Representative has told a US Senate committee that drug prices will rise under this system. The delight with which the drug companies have greeted the FTA must make all Australians suspicious of our government's reassurances".

Actor and Media Alliance representative Geoff Morrell described the threat to the Australian entertainment industry posed by the potential limitation of Australian content in new forms of media as an attack on national identity.

"This is a dud deal... because it trades away our safeguards on cultural identity".

But it is not too late.

The agreement can still be debated and stopped. There are two Parliamentary inquiries over the next 2 months and the implementing legislation can be blocked by the Senate when it comes before Parliament after June.

Senate Select Committee on the USFTA - closing date for submissions is Friday, 30 April 2004. Submissions should be sent by email to FTA@aph.gov.au or by mail to the Senate Select Committee on the USFTA, Parliament House, Canberra.
Mr Brenton Holmes (02) 6277 3527 or Ms Tanya Stacpoole (02) 6277 3163
Fax: (02) 6277 3830

Joint Standing Committee on Treaties - closing date for submissions Tuesday 13 April 2004. The Committee invites interested individuals and organisations to make a submission to the inquiry. The Committee will report by 23 June 2004. Submissions should be emailed to jsct@aph.gov.au or sent by post to The Secretary , Joint Standing Committee on Treaties, R1-109 , Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600, telephone (02) 6277 4002 or fax on (02) 6277 2219.

The Committee has agreed on an initial program of public hearings in each State and Territory, as follows (subject to change):
Monday 19 April - Sydney
Tuesday 20 April - Melbourne
Wednesday 21 April - Hobart
Thursday 22 April - Adelaide
Friday 23 April - Perth
Monday 3 May - Darwin
Tuesday 4 May - Cairns
Wednesday 5 May - Brisbane
Thursday 6 May - Sydney

For more information about AFTINET, the full text of Ten Devils in the Detail of the USFTA and samples of submissions visit www.aftinet.org.au

For further information

April 2004 contents