Contact details:

AFTINET
Level 3, Suite 3B, 110 Kippax St
Surry Hills, NSW 2010.

Phone (02) 9212 7242, Fax (02) 9211 1407

Email: campaign@aftinet.org.au

AFTINET is a national network of over 90 community organisations and many more individuals concerned about trade and investment policy.

AFTINET grew out of the successful campaign by community organisations against the Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI), which had attempted to restrict the ability of governments to regulate both investment and key areas of social policy.

The collapse of the 1999 Seattle World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ministerial Meeting and of the 2003 Cancun WTO Ministerial Meeting, and the divisions at the 2005 Hong Kong Ministerial Meeting showed that the world trading system is failing to meet the needs of developing countries for fairer trade rules which do not erode social policies. Community organisations have continued the debate about international trade agreements and have demanded greater accountability by the Australian government for its role in the WTO and bilateral trade agreements like the Australia-US Free Trade Agreement.

There is widespread concern that current trade policy gives priority to the flow of goods, services, investment and finance at the expense of local development, protection of the environment and human rights.

Trade agreements can restrict the scope of legitimate government regulation in many areas. Under the guise of deregulation and free trade, regulatory powers are in fact transferred to international institutions beyond the reach of democratic accountability.

Trade disputes processes, conducted behind closed doors, have defined environmental regulation, food safety regulation, and local industry policies as barriers to trade. These decisions can be enforced through trade sanctions.

There is a wealth of international law developed through the United Nations (UN) on human rights, labour rights, cultural development, rights of indigenous people, the environment and health and safety. UN processes are more transparent and accountable than those of the WTO, and its agreements are enacted through domestic legislation in each member country. In some cases WTO disputes processes have undermined established principles recognised in international environment and health law such as the precautionary principle, that is, the right to restrict potential dangers to health and environment.

Thus trade processes can deliver favourable trade and investment conditions for some corporations but foster a race to the bottom on regulatory standards.

Developing country government and non-government organisations have criticised the lack of transparency of WTO process and its domination by the governments of the most powerful economies.

• a critical re-assessment of the WTO and other trade structures and dispute processes;

• greater public discussion and accountability for government trade policy and for international trade negotiation processes;

• a trade and investment framework which does not erode local ability to regulate on issues of economic development, the environment, human rights and labour rights;

• more effective representation of developing countries and more effective international regulation through the United Nations on the environment, human rights and labour rights.

• monitor trade and investment negotiation processes;

• establish contacts with similar international networks;

• exchange information and basic educational material on trade issues;

• raise community awareness and debate through public events and activities; and

• seek to change trade and investment policy based on these principles.

• publications on the WTO Trade in Services (GATS) Negotiations the US FTA negotiations and the proposed China FTA;

• regular bulletins with news and updates;

• organized many public meetings and rallies about trade issues;

• provided speakers at many community meetings and conferences;

• community and mainstream media coverage;

• regular written submissions and meetings with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade;

• pressured the Government to publish in March 2003 its initial offer in the GATS negotiations,  which did not contain public health, education water, postal or audio-visual services;

• influenced Opposition and minor Parties’ policies on the USFTA;

• liaison with similar groups in other countries.

AFTINET organisational subscribers (as at December 2005):

1. Adelaide Fair Trade
2. AID/WATCH
3. AJ & TM Schofield
4. ATTAC Australia
5. Australia Tibet Council
6. Australian Catholic Social Justice Council
7. Australian Centre for Democracy and Justice
8. Australian Coalition for Economic Justice
9. Australian Conservation Foundation
10. Australian Council for International Development
11. Australian Council of Social Service
12. Australian Council of Trade Unions
13. Australian Education Union
14. Australian Education Union (South Australian Branch)
15. Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union
16. Australian Nursing Federation (National)
17. Australian Nursing Federation (Vic Branch)
18. Australian Organisation of the Unemployed
19. Australian Services Union (Clerical and Admin Branch) Queensland
20. Australian Services Union (NSW & ACT Services Branch)
21. Australian Services Union National Office (Sydney Office)
22. Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP)
23. Catholic Commission for Justice, Development and Peace, NSW
24. Central Australian Aboriginal Congress
25. Combined Community Legal Centres Group NSW (CCLCG NSW)
26. Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association of NSW
27. Community & Public Sector Union – SPSF Group
28. Community and Public Sector Union, National Office
29. Conference of Leaders of Religious Institutes in New South Wales
30. Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union
31. Economic Reform Australia
32. Edmund Rice Centre
33. Environment Centre NT
34. Environmental Defender's Office (NSW)
35. Epping District Peace and Environment Group
36. Ethnic Communities Council of NSW
37. FairWear Campaign (NSW)
38. Finance Sector Union of Australia
39. Franciscan Missionaries of Mary
40. Friends of the ABC (ACT and Region)
41. Friends of the ABC (NSW)
42. Friends of the Earth Australia
43. Free China
44. Good Shepherd Social Justice Network
45. The Grail (NSW)
46. Greenpeace Australia Pacific
47. Health Services Union
48. Hospital Salaried Officers Association of WA
49. Justice and International Mission Unit, Uniting Church (Victoria /Tasmania)
50. Justice And Peace Promoter - Catholic Archdiocese, Sydney
51. Kezang Arts Events
52.   Labor Council of New South Wales
53. Maritime Union of Australia
54. Maritime Union of Australia – Victorian Branch
55. Maritime Union Socialist Activities Association (MUSAA)
56. Melbourne Unitarian Church
57. Mercy Foundation
58. Mineral Policy Institute
59. MSC Justice and Peace Centre
60. National Council of Churches in Australia
61. National Tertiary Education Industry Union
62. Newcastle Trades Hall Council
63. NSW Retired Teachers Association
64. NSW Teacher’s Federation
65. Oxfam Community Aid Abroad
66. The People's Movement
67. Presentation Sisters Wagga
68. Public Interest Advocacy Centre
69. Quaker Peace and Justice
70. Rail, Tram & Bus Union
71. Rainforest Information Centre (Lismore)
72. SEARCH Foundation
73. Sisters of Mercy Goulburn Congregation
74. Sisters of Mercy Perth
75. Sisters of St Joseph, Perthville, NSW
76. StopMAI (WA)
77. Sutherland Shire Environment Centre
78. Tasmanian Catholic Justice and Peace Commission
79. TEAR Australia Inc
80. Unfolding Futures Pty Ltd
81. Union Aid Abroad – APHEDA
82. United Trades & Labor Council of South Australia
83. UnitingCare Aged Care
84. UnitingCare NSW.ACT
85. Uniting Justice Australia, Uniting Church (formerly National Social Responsibility and Justice,  Uniting Church)
86. Victorian Trades Hall Council
87. Womens Electoral Lobby, WA
88. Womens Health NSW
89. WTO Watch (ACT)
90. WTO Watch (Queensland)

You can subscribe as an individual or an organization. Subscribers receive:

All membership fees are GST inclusive.

Organisations:

AUS $165.00     International/National Organisation

AUS $44.00       State/Territory/Small Organisation

Individuals:

AUS $55.00     passionate individual member

AUS $33.00     waged

AUS $10.00     concession (unemployed, students, pensioners)

Further concessions available on request and larger donations are welcome!

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