Act now

The Howard Cabinet will make the decision whether to reject or accept the agreement, and some aspects can be introduced simply by government regulation. Others will require enabling legislation.

Two Senate committees are currently examining the agreement:

• the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties, which has majority Howard Government representation. It is due to report by June 23; and
• the Senate Select Committee on the USAFTA, which has a majority of ALP and minor party (Democrat and One Nation) membership. Submissions to that closed on April 30, and it is supposed to report in July 2004.

Even if it is too late to make a submission (by email at FTA@aph.gov.au), make your views known to Australian politicians. You will find contact details for your local Member of Parliament and Senators by clicking here.

More information and activities you can undertake can be found at the Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network (AFTINET) website www.aftinet.org.au. The Australian Education Union is a member of AFTINET.

You can read the full text of the draft agreement at www.ustr.gov/new/fta/Australia/text/index.htm.

A list of useful links and discussion can be found at www.kerrynettle.org.au, the website of NSW Greens Senator Kerry Nettle.

To read various speeches from ALP MPs, do a search under "Free Trade Agreement" at www.alp.org.au.

Australian Democrats information can be found at www.democrats.org.au/campaigns/free_trade/faq.htm.

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Last Modified: 15 Nov 2005