Question for federal candidates: The Coalition wants to fast track the Trans Pacific Partnership by including corporate powers to sue the government off-shore ‘on a case by case basis’. This would put power over environmental protections into the hands of transnational corporations for the rest of this century. Many regulations of critical concern in Central Queensland are threatened under this Coalition commitment; for example, mine de-watering, dredging, coal seam gas and activities in the Great Barrier Reef. Such free trade powers create an unacceptable threat to our laws to protect Australia’s unique biodiversity. John Howard realised the danger and refused to agree to the inclusion of such corporate powers in the 2004 Australia-US free trade deal. September is National Biodiversity Month, and Sep 7th polling day is National Threatened Species Day, the anniversary of the death in 1936 of the last Thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger). If elected will you insist that Australia keeps legal control over Australia’s right to make environmental laws to prevent the loss of habitat and further extinctions?
Posted on: Tue, 03 Sep 2013 05:30:36 +0000