The Abbott Government must ensure the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement does not include Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provisions which could jeopardise Australian public policies in areas ranging from healthcare to the environment.
With the next round of TPP negotiations due to start in Guam today, Trade Minister Andrew Robb should explain why he is willing to accept ISDS provisions in the TPP when the Howard Government would not accept them in the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement.
ISDS provisions in the TPP could allow multinationals to challenge Australian policies designed to protect public welfare in international arbitration tribunals.
There is widespread community concern about these provisions, which have been criticised by economic and legal experts including the Productivity Commission, the Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia and The Economist.
Labor opposes ISDS provisions in trade agreements.
The Abbott Government has included them in trade agreements with Korea and China and has said it is prepared to include them in the TPP.
Mr Abbott should listen to the community, follow the lead of former Prime Minister Howard, and reject the inclusion of ISDS provisions in the TPP.