STOP MAI

MEDIA RELEASE -for immediate release, 12 March, 1999 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)

Federal Government misleads us
on MAI revival

The West Australian coalition against a Multilateral Agreement on Investment (Stop MAI) has criticised the Federal Government’s response to the 14th report of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties entitled Multilateral Agreement on Investment: Interim report, tabled yesterday in the Senate.

In response to the Committee's recommendation that the public inquiry into the MAI be continued, the Government (per Senator Abetz) said "It is clear . . .that the draft MAI text has no status and that negotiations on the MAI have ceased. Therefore there seems no reason for the Government to continue its public inquiry into the MAI".

Stop MAI is aware that a timetable has been laid down by the European Union and other developed countries for a transition of the failed OECD MAI negotiations to the World Trade Organisation (WTO). According to a statement yesterday by the UK Trade Minister, Brian Wilson, such negotiations may commence in January, 2000.

The Australian Government is fully aware of this move, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is in fact currently seeking public submissions on the subject of future multilateral trade negotiations in the WTO !

"In the absence of continuing government consultation and transparency on this issue, Stop MAI intends to further raise public awareness of Australia's actions. We will be meeting with local non-government organisations on Monday (15 March) and will be moving to refocus the debate in the WTO forum," a Stop MAI spokesperson said today.

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