1. Text of USFTA and upcoming campaign
2. Opinion poll shows growing doubts about USFTA
3. AFTINET meeting with DFAT
4. AFTINET Planning Meeting 10 March

1. Text of USFTA and upcoming campaign

DFAT has advised that the text of the USFTA will be available either on Friday this week (27 February) or Monday of next week (1 March). Shortly after the text is released AFTINET will circulate analysis of it. There will be a number of very important events in the campaign over the next three months.

After the text is tabled, two parliamentary committees will enquire into the agreement:

a) Senate Select Committee

After the text is released a Senate Select Committee will examine the agreement, including commissioning independent economic modelling. The Australian Financial Review reported on 17 February that the Committee will consist of coalition senators George Brandis, Jeannie Ferris and Ron Boswell, Labor Senators Stephen Conroy, Peter Cook and Kerry O’Brien, Democrats leader Andrew Bartlett and Greens Senator Kerry Nettle.

The Notice of Motion setting up the Committee states that it will ‘examine impacts of the agreement on Australia’s economic, trade, investment and social and environment policies, including, but not limited to, agriculture, health, education and the media’.

This Committee will take submissions and evidence around the country, probably over March, April and May. Its hearings will be an excellent opportunity to draw media and public attention to the agreement. AFTINET and other organisations will try to organise public events to coincide with the Committee’s sitting dates. We will advise details in later bulletins and encourage you to support the event closest to you.

Opposition Leader Mark Latham and Shadow Trade Minister Stephen Conroy said in January that if the USFTA does not meet Labor's national interest criteria, Labor will not support it, or its legislative passage, through Parliament. The ALP’s criteria are that the USFTA must:

• Deliver significant and comprehensive benefits to Australia, including in agriculture (dairy, beef and sugar) in a reasonable period of time (For instance, the NFF has indicated five years).

• Deliver significant employment and investment gains for Australia's manufacturing and service industries.

• Not undermine the ability of Australian Governments to provide and regulate essential services in health and education, including the PBS.

• Not undermine the capacity of Australian Governments to protect Australian culture by regulating for local content in the future delivery of audio-visual products.

• Not undermine the sovereignty of Australian Government laws and regulations or expose them to potential legal challenge by US companies.

• Not undermine Australia's access to Asian markets (the primary destination for our exports) or our WTO and APEC objectives

The second committee is the government dominated Joint Standing Committee on Treaties (JSCOT). After the tabling of the agreement JSCOT has a minimum of 20 sitting days to examine the agreement and make recommendations. This means it will probably be sitting throughout March, April and May. JSCOT have advised us that it intends to hold public hearings in different cities. JSCOT advertised in The Australian last week that it will be seeking submissions from the public shortly, after the text is released.

We will advise of the dates and details for public submissions to both committees when they become known. AFTINET will circulate a draft submission prior to the deadlines for people to read and draw on for their own submissions.

Some parts of the USFTA, such as the tariff changes, will need legislation to implement them. This will probably happen in May. We will need to lobby Senators and the ALP Caucus to make sure they are aware of the strong community concern about this agreement, and of the need to block the legislation. We will be preparing lobbying information that you can use.

d) Rally in Canberra

When the legislation is being introduced into Parliament we intend to hold a rally in Canberra. We will advise details of this in future bulletins.

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2. Opinion poll shows growing doubts about USFTA

A poll conducted by government and public relations firm, Hawker Britton, shortly after the US Free Trade Agreement was announced indicates that public support in Australia for the deal has dropped by 18%. From December 2003 to February 2004, support dropped from 53% to 35% and opposition rose from 24% to 37%. When asked whether they were confident or not confident that the Howard government got a good deal for Australia, 47% were not confident and only 32% were confident.

"The survey shows that the agreement itself has disappointed many people. I suspect that by referring to the trade agreement as 'free', this raised expectations that the final agreement would be one of trade with no restrictions" said Bruce Hawker, Managing Director of government and public relations firm Hawker Britton.

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3. AFTINET meeting with Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)

Representatives of AFTINET met with DFAT on 10 February in Canberra to get updated information on the status of Australia’s trade negotiations with Thailand, Japan and China, as well as within the WTO and the USFTA. AFTINET is monitoring the range of bilateral negotiations, and will circulate information about specific negotiations when it becomes available.

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4. AFTINET Planning Meeting 10 March

The AFTINET Planning meeting will be held on 10 March from 5pm at the Conference room on Level 11, PSA House, 160 Clarence Street Sydney. Please note the address: the meeting will NOT be at the AFTINET offices. The meeting will run for approximately two hours.

Come along if you can and have your say about AFTINET’s priorities for the next 12 months. Please let us know if you are coming. If you can’t attend but would like to make a suggestion for the planning meeting please contact Louise Southalan at lsouthalan@piac.asn.au or by phone (02) 9299 7833.

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