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back to article Oz Government: TPP papers will stay secret

Australians interested in knowing just what's going to be in the controversial Trans Pacific Partnership agreement will have to hope someone leaks the latest text, with the government resisting last week's Senate order to produce the documents. According to Fairfax, the government says the treaty text will only be made public …

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  1. Hud Dunlap

    Sounds like Nancy Pelosi

    According to Fairfax, the government says the treaty text will only be made public after it's been signed.

    Sounds like Nancy Pelosi's famous comment on Obamacare.

    We have to pass this to see what's in it.

    http://blog.heritage.org/2010/03/10/video-of-the-week-we-have-to-pass-the-bill-so-you-can-find-out-what-is-in-it/

    Is the Australian Government taking lessons from the Democrats now?

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    1. Don Jefe
      Reply Icon

      Re: Sounds like Nancy Pelosi

      To be fair, the Republicans didn't read the bill either.

      5 1
  2. tkioz

    Democracy? What's that?

    Utterly disgusted by this crap, and utterly disgusted that the major news outlets in Australia aren't all over this.

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    1. Wanda Lust
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      Re: Democracy?

      I thought the 'major news outlets' are mostly owned by Murdoch, if so there's the answer.

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    2. Anonymous Coward
      Reply Icon
      Anonymous Coward

      The fact that the Australian senate couldn't even get a copy of this shitty piece of legislation, shows that governments everywhere have been taken over by an alliance of bureaucrats (like RIAA) and appointed officials. The fact that the details of this agreement is being kept top secret from the public shows that:

      1. These officials and bureaucrats and appointed official have a total contempt for the people in the countries involved

      2.The government knows that this bill will be wildly unpopular with the people. From the little information that I see, it will benefit only the super rich and major corporations

      3. Elected officials and the press have totally lost control of the government. That needs to be changed. Any trade bill must allow the public to view what is happening.

      4. This plus the NSA spying shows that, at least the US government, has no use for public input; or for that matter, the public itself.

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  3. Al Black

    Trans Pacific Partnership agreement

    If the Trans Pacific Partnership agreement makes parallel importing illegal, then we should not sign it at any price. Free Trade becomes unfair trade if anti-competitive rules enforce import monopolies. Free Trade should be just that: Free, with the maximum competition between Retailers and Suppliers to deliver the lowest prices to consumers.

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  4. Rather Notsay
    Facepalm

    Use your big boy voices

    "Consultation does not take place merely so that those with an interest feel included in the process." "The State and Territory Governments are a primary focus of the consultation process." "... the Trade Policy Advisory Committee enables the business community's interests in trade policy negotiations to be reflected in Government positions" "To facilitate public input, the Government prepares a list of all multilateral treaties currently under negotiation or review which can be found on the Australian Treaties Library Internet site. The list is updated approximately twice a year and tabled in both Houses of the Commonwealth Parliament. The list includes the name of the contact officer in the responsible Department to whom comments or questions can be directed for each treaty under negotiation. This provides greater transparency in the treaty making process and ensures that interested groups and individuals are in a position to contribute freely to Australia's negotiating position." "Inevitably, the final decision necessarily involves a balancing of competing interests. " Do you get it now? You're allowed to know a treaty is being negotiated and you're allowed to say what you want in the treaty, but that doesn't mean you're a walk-up start to be in the loop on every draft. This is not a new process.

    http://www.dfat.gov.au/treaties/making/

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