Date: 13 April 2004

 

 

The Secretary

Joint Standing Committee on Treaties

R1 - 109, Parliament House

CANBERRA ACT 2600

 

Dear Secretary

 

                        SUBMISSION RE THE USFTA

 

I wish to submit my opinion that the USFTA ( US/ Australia Free Trade Agreement) as negotiated is totally biassed in favour of the USA, has no benefits for Australia and has many aspects that will work to the detriment of our nation and our citizens.

 

In particular, the USFTA:

 

*    diminishes our sovereignty and our democracy by putting unacceptable limits on the freedom of all levels of government to legislate and regulate for the benefit of Australians, including in relation to -

>    essential services such as water supply,

>    foreign investment, specifically by US corporations/citizens,

>    quarantine that protects our health and our food production,

>    food labelling, specifically banning GM derived food labelling, and

>    government purchasing policies which encourage local suppliers.

 

*     has a disputes process whiich further reduces our sovereignty by enabling the US Government to challenge many Australian laws and regulations before a trade tribunal, on the groundsthat they are too burdensome for business or form a barrier to trade;

 

*    threatens our culture and society by putting limits on legislation for local content in our media and specifies that the only changes to the status quo must reduce current regulatory control;

 

*    endangers our "world's best practice" Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme by permitting US Government and corporations powers to control policy and prices through joint committees and reviews;

 

*    threatens the viability of our auto and TCF manufacturing industries thus endangering the jobs of 100,000 Australians; and

 

*    adopts US copyright law, leading to higher costs for libraries, schools and universities.

 

As a long time campaigner for justice,human rights, Constitutional reform. and the preservation of Australian public Broadcasting,

I call on the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties to recommend to Parliament that the enabling legislation required to put this anti-Australian Trade Agreement into affect, not be brought before Parliament or that it be withdrawn, as it is so obviously against the best interests of the Australian people and, therefore, contrary to the duty of each and every Australian government, and indeed, of each individual politician.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

Jacqueline Nance Loney

1/53 Boronia Road

Bellevue Hill 2023