Health organisations have sent this letter to Prime Minister Tony Abbott outlining their concerns about the impact of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) on public health.

The Sydney Morning Herald's summary of the APEC summit held in Bali mentions the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) and quotes AFTINET.

AFTINET's Dr Patricia Ranald outlines the concerns over the TPPA in this article and radio interview from the ABC.

"The negotiations have a large number of sticking points, which are mainly caused because the US has made a number of what I would call fairly extreme demands about changing regulation.

Dr Deborah Gleeson and Dr Paula O'Brien write in the Australian Medical Journal that the TPPA may create barriers to Australia introducing the optimal health warnings scheme for wine and spirit containers.

More.

03/10/2013

AFTINET and six public health organizations today urged the Abbott Government to reject proposals in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPPA) to increase monopoly privileges for drug companies which would increase medicine prices by delaying access to cheaper generic medicine.

Full submission .

Professor Matthew Rimmer criticises Coalition trade policy, TPPA secrecy and proposals for foreign investors to sue governments.

Read the article.

More than 70 organisations including 54 regional groups ranging from Mirboo in Victoria, to the Cassowary Coast in North Queensland, to Walgett in NSW, in traditional areas of Coalition support, have endorsed a letter to Trade Minister Andrew Robb. They oppose foreign investor rights to sue governments for damages in international tribunals over environmental regulation of coal seam gas mining.

Read the media release.

Read the letter.

AFTINET is hosting a public seminar to be held at NSW Parliament on Tuesday the 22nd of October from 12-2pm.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership endgame: corporate rights or peoples’ rights?
The US, Australia, New Zealand and nine other Pacific Rim countries have been negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPPA) trade agreement for the last three years. The pressure is on to finish the negotiations this year. But the agreement is not mainly about trade.

Details
Date: 22nd October, 12-2pm
Venue: NSW Parliament, Macquarie Room

Please RSVP by COB October 21 to campaign@aftinet.org.au

Trade and Technology: What does the TPPA mean for Australia?

Public discussion of TPPA (Trans-Pacific Partnership) and broader trade related issues on topics ranging from (but not limited to): Digital Rights, Cultural Goods and services, eCommerce, IP, Copyright, Privacy, Biotech and GMO's, Health (and PBS), International Dispute settlement, Export/import markets, including impacts on food production and foreign investment.

Places are limited. Event sponsored by Swinburne University. Register here.

AFTINET's Dr Patricia Ranald was interviewed about the Abbott government's policy on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPPA) and investor rights to sue governments on the ABC Radio National program PM

Listen here.