UPDATE – DECEMBER
We would like
to thank Doug Ashworth and his colleagues from the Grey Power Association for
allowing us to republish the following articles from their monthly newsletter.
WOOLIE’S NO NAME FRUIT
Here’s a novel
twist to merchandising ….. Woolworths will require their fruit suppliers to
forward their produce in plain unmarked black boxes rather than a container
showing the grower’s logo or orchard or farm location. Without any distinguishing marks on the
containers, the consumer will not know if the fruit came from Australian farms
or from disease ridden, subsidised sources such as America, New Zealand or the Philippines. Is this anonymity something to do with
imports under the free trade agreement.
U.S. FREE TRADE
There are
strong murmurs around the traps that the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
is under threat by the U.S. industry leaders.
We will suffer if there is any relation. Mr. Howard said that the PBS was off limits, sacrosanct, do not
touch. Are we to be sold down the river?
MOTOR FUEL PRICES
Recent media
advice puts the petrol price at $1.20 in the foreseeable future. A spokesman for AMP Capital Investments said
that while high oil prices was unambiguously bad news for the American economy,
it was not necessarily so for Australia’s.
“Australia is a
net energy exporter, so the rise and the economy, and China is still going
strong, which is good news for our mining stocks.”
It is good to
see that the mining stock investors and investments will be protected but spare
a thought for the increasing slug on the elderly who regard the motor car a
necessity rather than a luxury.
China enjoys
the imports of bargain priced natural gas from Australia as against our retail
gas price approaching 50 cents per litre.
Are we pleased to see China being economically sound when the Oz lower
earner and pensioners are apparently subsidizing the Chinese boom?
The economists
see virtue in keeping stock market returns high for those fortunate enough to
be able to take part but the vast majority of consumers would like to see the
old adage “charity begins at home” have some meaning.
Country
surcharges on fuel and the lack of virtually any practical public transport,
places rural and regional dwellers at a disadvantage.
The “tank of
fuel” is no longer an occasional expense but is now a jamor item that must be
factored into the family budget to survive.
Forget those trips to family happenings and gatherings which should be
an essential part of any retirement and revel in the knowledge that the Chinese
economy is sound.
NEW ZEALAND N’APPLES
New Zealand is
still trying to convince those empowered with keeping Australia free of exotic
fauna diseases, that their “fireblight” affected apples do not pose a threat to
apple producers or our community. The
ban has been in place since 1921.
The New
Zealanders are now threatening to take the matter to the World Trade
Organisation (WTO) with the aim to have our Quarantine regulations down graded
to suit the marketing of diseased fruit.
We already have
grapes imported from America that are preserved with carcinogenic sprays that
are banned for use in the USA but legal for export to other consumers.
These two
instances are but the thin edge of the disadvantage despite the platitudes of
our politicians.
RYCO FILTERS
Most women
would probably not have heard of Ryco Filters, but any red blooded male rev
head with sump oil for a brain would know the brand.
Ryco is a major
manufacturer of automotive oil, fuel and air filters and are readily available
at motor stores and supermarkets to fit your vehicle.
Ryco will now
be manufactured overseas and around seventy jobs lost as a result of the
decision.
“The offshore
syndrome.”
The company
will continue to trade so the principal’s senior staff and warehouse people
will still have jobs and enjoy continuing employment. The blue and no collar people will be disadvantaged but the top
end of the firm will be largely unaffected.
AUSTRALIA’S FUTURE
It’s all over
for another term, the lots have been cast and the majority of electors have
given us a conservative government. The
major parties were surprised at the result with both sides anticipating a cliff
hanger rather than the decisive victory shown.
Everything is
now history and it is the next three years that will need careful monitoring in
light of the plethora of promises made in the softening up process.
The control of
the Senate is crucial for any governing party and it would seem that the
Nationals Coalition will be in complete charge for it is doubtful if the junior
partner in the coalition will have a loud enough voice to be heard.
The Prime
Minister, John Howard, has stated that he will not abuse their power in the
Senate and well what else could he say.
While
statistically the government is in charge there are those voters, approaching
50% of the electorate whose needs must be taken into account and not ignored.
To ignore the
constituents of seats that decided to elect another party to represent them is
contrary to any democratic process but then, human frailties will often
overcome ethical ideals.
Most political
parties have common platforms on many social, humane and administrative matters
with legislature being passed unanimously and without fuss. Their differences seem to come about when
major fund contributions enter the equation.
The Piper plays
the tune, not from personal choice but under direction of the source of party
funds. No party would admit to aligning
policies according to the source of party funds but there is a possibility that
such a scenario could happen.
Australia is
now entering into an era of the disposal of public assets which, we are told,
will be of great benefit to all with the government giving assurances of fair
play by the purchaser of any utility or service.
There are still
plenty of areas where the government can make money to pay for all election
promises with the water market untapped, Australia Post to be fully privatized,
premiums on overseas funding coming into our country, privatization of hospital
services with the slow decline in an effective Medicare system, the top up on
fees payable to the government on a more than equitable user pay scale the
quick and more than equitable user pay scale the quick and efficient (?)
extraction of money by tax bracket creep with the GST there as a backstop for
that easy dollar.
To the
uninitiated there seems to be a game being played between government and the
multi-nationals over agreeing to becoming part of the global empire so loved by
big business. Power seems to be high on
the agenda for some of the executives (both government and private) with the
wheeling and dealing aimed at maximizing profits and power without considering
the effects on the average wage plug.
There is a concerted move, it would appear to reduce the players in a
particular field and have virtual control over an industry.
The
supermarket, corner store analogy is but a simplified version of the struggle
of big business needing to succeed.
Media and
communications are ripe for exploitation with the awesome power of the trade
not open to any effective criticism or remedy.
Grey Power has
been critical of the Free Trade Agreement with America highlighting the power
of the overseas companies that are well established in Oz. These firms could quickly move to take
advantage of the trade provisions while Oz must wait, in the majority of
instances, some years to gain a small benefit.
Middle
Australia is important………
UNIERSITY STUDENT COUNCILS
IGNORE THE DANGERS OF THE FTA
Three months
prior to the Federal election we contacted the following Australian Universities
student councils to warn them of the danger that the Free Trade Agreement (FTA)
will lead to the full privatization of our education systems.
Australian
National
Launceston
Macquarie
Melbourne
Monash
Newcastle
New England
Queensland
South
Australian
Technology of
Sydney
Sydney
West Australian
Western Sydney
Wollongong
The
Howard-Anderson Coalition have already commenced to take over control of
Australian Universities from the States and Territories so that they can honour
the concessions they’ve conceded to the United States re: the FTA.
Anyone who
doubts our statement should go to Index-Update June – where you’ll find an
Executive Office of the United States President’s press release, re: Trade
Facts, February 8, 2004.
U.S. -
Australia Free Trade Agreement
Brief summary
of the Agreement
Go to part four
headed Access to Services and Investment: which will explain service sectors
that American Multi-Nationals can purchase 100% of, including Education and
Training.
Voice of the
People Lobby Group would like to wish all Australians a happy Christmas and a
healthy and safe New Year.
HOW TO PROTECT OURSELVES
FROM THE FTA – FALLOUT
In closing, we
suggest you make time over the Christmas holiday period to peruse our entire
website so that you can see how successive governments over a thirty year
period has been leading fellow Australians down the garden path with the able
support of our cross-media journalist and political commentators.