STOP MAI

MEDIA RELEASE -for immediate release, 22 April, 1998 Authorised by the STOP-MAI Campaign Coalition (WA) Website http://members.iinet.net.au/~jenks/fair.html Affiliated with the Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network (AFTInet) and with the World Social Forum (WSF)

Treaty ‘counter to social cohesion’

The Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI) is designed to entrench the philosophy of economic rationalism and prevent any reversal for at least 20 years, a packed meeting of 250 West Australians was told by TLC Secretary Mr Tony Cooke at the Victoria Hall, Fremantle last night.

"We have reached a time when people from every part of the political spectrum must work together to heal the divisions in society, but we are now faced with the possible effects of an international treaty which is counter to restoring social cohesion.

"The MAI establishes control by multinational corporations over our destiny– and the regional interests which underpin our democratic society are not recognised under this agreement, no matter what reservations our Government may negotiate," he said.

Mr Cooke, who had rushed from addressing an even bigger meeting of trade unionists at the Fremantle Town Hall and was clearly exhausted, electrified the audience as he flayed politicians for not heeding the population’s needs and wishes.

The meeting, organised by STOP-MAI (WA) was also addressed by WA Greens Senator Dee Margetts, Mr Mal Taylor (President, Rural Action Movement) and Dr Rob Lambert of the University of Western Australia’s School of Organisational and Labour Studies. It was chaired by former Democrat senator Jean Jenkins.

STOP-MAI convener, Mr Rodney Vlais, said after the meeting that the issue of MAI was now firmly fixed in the public eye, despite efforts by the Federal Government and powerful vested interests to put the treaty in place with minimal attention.

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PHONE CONTACTS: Brian Jenkins +61 8 9528 1864; Dion Giles 0411 745 538