Issue 2002 September 21
Browse Articles
COMMENT: Australia-US free trade: MAI through the back door?
What can Australia offer the US in negotiations on a free trade agreement – foreign investment deregulation of the media, telecommunications (including a fully privatised Telstra), aviation and banking industries? That was the warning of Alan Kohler in the Australian Financial Review (September 5, 2002).The fact is that Australia has little else to offer in exchange for US trade concessions, having unilaterally abandoned most…
AGRICULTURE: Cane farmers reject sugar package
The recently announced Federal Government’s proposal for the sugar industry is likely to achieve something rare in agri-politics – united opposition to the key proposals by farmer organisations.At stake for the government,with this heavily depressed industry, are four sugar electorates held by the Coalition. The fifth is held by independent Bob Katter.The package proposes abolishing single desk selling of raw sugar into the…
