Fed: ALP should reject FTA until issues are resolved: Lees

AAP General News (Australia)
08-03-2004
Fed: ALP should reject FTA until issues are resolved: Lees

CANBERRA, Aug 3 AAP - Labor should reject the free trade agreement (FTA) with the United
States until all concerns were resolved, independent senator Meg Lees said today.

Labor MPs and senators face a bitter debate today when they meet to decide whether
to support the FTA.

Split between the left and right, Labor will consider the recommendations of a Senate
committee that has backed the deal.

Senator Lees questioned why Labor was in a rush to vote on the FTA while there were
unresolved concerns about the impact it would have on pharmaceutical prices, Australian
culture and workers' conditions.

She also accused the federal government of manipulating Labor by aligning support for
the FTA with support for the US alliance.

"The Labor senators have made so many recommendations with regard to the FTA that the
ALP should just vote it down until all the issues are properly resolved," Senator Lees
said.

"This FTA cuts across every aspect of Australian life - social, legal, economic, environmental
and cultural.

"It should not be rushed through without full consideration by all senators, not just
those on the committee who are being politically driven by the closeness of the election."

Senator Lees said the marginal economic gains that the FTA would provide were not worth
Australia losing its national identity.

AAP bt/tma/bwl

KEYWORD: TRADE US LEES

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