DFAT misses a chance to listen
What were once excellent consultations by DFAT with NGOs recently became one-way lectures, from DFAT, to the detriment of everybody. Let’s hope it reverts in style next meeting. 11 Feb 2018
Category: Treaties and Agreements
A lemon remains a lemon when withering
The ’new’ Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement is likely as bad as the original, but the text is still secret, so it may be worse. Ideology is over-ruling common sense. 2 Feb 2018.
East Timor is mad as hell…
Australians with intimate knowledge of our sleazy dealings over oil reserves with East Timor are delighted the Labor Party has announced a change in policy. John Martinkus explains why. 19 April 2016
Lack of debate causes ‘democratic deficit’
Australia’s Treaties committee has celebrated 20 years, highlighting significant doubts about whether there’s a ‘democratic deficit’ if major national issues are not debated by the full parliament. 26 March 2016
TPP: Corporations trump democracy
One of the world’s top business schools has dissected the TPP, finding that it would undermine public accountability, thwart democratic mechanisms and harm millions of people…just for starters. 13 March 2016
Scientists want Controls law re-think
In a last-minute plea to the PM, top researchers urgently want reconsideration of a law that would do ‘irreparable damage’ to Australianscience. You too can sign the petition. 22 Feb 16