Senator Andrew Bartlett
Saturday, November 20, 2004
 
The first week of Parliament is over. It was a short week, just one day for the ceremonial opening and the Governor-General's speech, and two days for any business of substance. My speech in response to the Governor-General is here for any that care to read it.

There was one piece of legislation passed to implement a Free Trade Agreement between Thailand and Australia. Whilst not as economically significant as the agreement with the USA, it still will have a major impact, not that you would know it from the minimal media coverage. Because there was no political drama around it, between or within the two major parties, it was barely reported.

The Democrats and Greens opposed it, in our case particularly because it failed to even attempt to address potential shortcomings with labour standards, as well as the fact that it had yet to be properly considered by the Parliamentary Committee set up to examine treaties.

posted by Andrew Bartlett @ Saturday, November 20, 2004
|


<< Home