Hearing of Legal Challenge to TPPA Secrecy set for Monday 28th September at Wellington High Court

The legal challenge to the secrecy of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) negotiations will be heard in the High Court in Wellington at 10am next Monday, 28th September.

The hearing coincides with the meeting of chief negotiators in Atlanta, USA prior to a ministerial meeting from 30 September to 2 October, which is being billed as their final meeting to conclude the deal. Those talks are once again being conducted under conditions of secrecy.

The case involves judicial review of the blanket refusal by the Trade Minister Tim Groser to release eight categories of information sought by Professor Jane Kelsey of the University of Auckland under the Official Information Act.

The request reflected information the European Union Ombudsman had just recommended for release in relation to parallel negotiations between the United States and the European Union.

Other applicants include Consumer NZ, Ngati Kahungunu, Oxfam and the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists.

They are seeking declarations that the Minister acted unlawfully in refusing to release the information.

The Statement of Claim and Statement of Defence can be accessed at http:tpplegal.wordpress.com.

ENDS

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