Time is running out: Say "NO" to the FTA!
Anna Pha The Senate Committee on the FTA (Free Trade Agreement with the US) reports back on August 3. This leaves less than two weeks to pressure the ALP into voting "NO". The necessary legislation has already passed through the US Congress. If it passes both Houses here it will be legally binding and breaking its punitive and exploitative grip will become extremely difficult. The FTA will affect everyone in all aspects of their lives, laying open Australia's economy to the plunder of the major US corporations: * Pharmaceutical medicines will cost at least $1.5 billion more per annum. US pharmaceutical companies will be able to challenge price controls under our Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. * It will cost thousands of jobs, put downward pressure on wages and working conditions. * The impact on our balance of trade with the US will be negative, to the tune of billions of dollars. * Quarantine restrictions will be eased or lifted, putting our agricultural sector at risk. * It opens up Australia to almost unrestricted investment and wholesale takeover by US transnational corporations. * It undermines the government's right and capacity to protect the environment, including preventing the release of genetically modified organisms. * Adopts US copyright law, pushing up the cost of the use of materials for schools, universities and libraries. * It severely restricts the right of the government over media content and ownership. * Outlaws solidarity and other industrial action by trade unions against US corporations. * Enables the US to challenge laws on essential services such as water, electricity and public transport and facilitates their privatisation. * Prevents governments at all levels from favouring Australian companies for the purposes of job creation and developmental reasons. And much more. The agreement favours US corporations at the expense of the Australia people. It undermines Australia's sovereignty, in particular the right and responsibility of elected government to make economic, political, environmental, social and other decisions. It consolidates the Australia's military alliance with and neo- colonisation by the US. ALP leader Mark Latham wants to win the next election. So do his parliamentary colleagues. So contact your MP and Senators, speak to them, fax them, email them, write letters, get on to talkback radio — wherever you can, raise the urgency and dangers of the FTA. And don't forget to lobby ALP leaders, Democrats and Independents and let the Greens know you appreciate their opposition to the FTA. To send letters, learn more about the FTA and find email addresses visit AFTINET and NOFTA websites. Let them know that the people of Australia say: NO TO THE FTA! http://www.aftinet.org.au http://www.nofta.org