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 threatens fight for income equality


TPPA threatens fight for income equality

While most of the country has been focused on the cricket world cup, cyclone Pam and tourists’ driving habits, Closing the Gap is reminding kiwis to say “no way” to the TPPA unless we know and accept what is going on.

The Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement continues to be negotiated behind closed doors, but Peter Malcolm, spokesperson for the income equality advocate group, fears the consequences of New Zealand signing up to it.

“First and foremost, we don’t know what the government is signing away because the deals are being made in secret. Only leaks from insiders and Snowden are telling us what is going on and the “look” is not good.

“Any agreement that will affect Pharmac, intellectual property laws, financial regulations and so on should be discussed with the citizens of New Zealand,” says Malcolm. These are substantial areas that are part of New Zealand’s sovereignty.”

Closing the Gap is particularly worried the TPPA’s influence on New Zealand’s already large gap between the rich and poor. Look at the effect of the NAFTA on inequality in Mexico.

“Respected academics like Professor Jane Kelsey of the University of Auckland and Associate Professor Jeff Sluka of Massey University are telling us that such trade agreements concentrate wealth in the hands of a few large corporations.

“The government might claim that the TPPA will bring economic growth, but that growth won’t trickle down to ordinary kiwis. Instead, we may be forced to buy more expensive medical drugs, lose the ability to buy from parallel importers, have our access to information restricted by harsh copyright laws, and have our Government sued by tobacco companies"

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.

“The only people who will make money from this deal will be corporate lawyers and multinational corporations.”

Malcolm urges New Zealanders to find out what the TPPA is all about through organisations like It's Our Future

“Once you understand the impact this trade agreement will have on increasing inequality in NZ, it’s impossible to support it. We need to make sure the government knows that ordinary New Zealanders don’t want this.”


ends

© 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.