Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

TPPA ‘non-transparency’ hits a new low

2 November 2012

TPPA ‘non-transparency’ hits a new low

The obsessive secrecy surrounding the Auckland round of Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement negotiations in Auckland from 3-12 December has plumbed new depths.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) has declined a request for the dates on which up to 29 working groups will be meeting. It merely offered to identify ‘windows’ when negotiators in specified sectors would be meeting.

MFAT’s response was a list that only says whether the group will be meeting before or after the so-called ‘stakeholder’ day on 7 December (see below).

“Even the dates that various groups are meeting is now a state secret, presumably because disclosure would somehow jeopardise the success of the negotiations” said Professor Jane Kelsey, who made the request on behalf of international experts who will be coming to Auckland for the round.

"This is just silly".

“Several individual negotiators have been more sensible and cooperative. Beyond that, we will have to rely on negotiators from other countries to tell us the dates on which they are attending a meeting hosted by our own government so that we can organise travel and accommodation, and plan events that attempt to engage with the negotiators."

MFAT’s email:

“Regarding the areas you have identified, below is a list of ‘windows’ organised around the central date of 7 December which we would expect most stakeholders to be planning travel around.

AreaWindow
IPPre and post 7 December
Transparency on medsPre 7 December
CBSPre 7 December
E-commercePost 7 December
Investment (including NCMs);Pre and post 7 December
EnvironmentPre and post 7 December
LabourPost 7 December
TransparencyPre 7 December
State-enterprises/competitionPost 7 December
Agriculture market accessPost 7 December
Financial servicesPre and Post 7 December

ENDS

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines



Gordon Campbell: On Dune 2, And Images Of Islam


Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture tends to be hostile to Islam when we’re sitting in the dark, with popcorn.
Any number of movie examples come to mind, beginning with Rudolf Valentino’s role (over a century ago) as the romantic Arab hero in The Sheik...
More


 
 


Government: One-stop Shop Major Projects On The Fast Track

The Coalition Government’s new one-stop-shop fast track consenting regime for regional and national projects of significance will cut red tape and make it easier for New Zealand to build the infrastructure and major projects needed to get the country moving again... More

ALSO:


Government: GPS 2024: Over $20 Billion To Get Transport Back On Track
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has released the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport, outlining the Coalition Government’s plan to build and maintain a transport system that enables people to get to where they need to go quickly and safely... More

ALSO:

Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.