Press Release
Rudd: Corporate Terrorism Inquiry Needed
Ron Law Risk & Policy Analyst

"Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd must initiate a formal inquiry into the the Australian Therapeutic Goods Agency's (TGA) use of fraud and lies to justify its 2003 corporate terror raid on Pan Pharmaceuticals and the wider natural and traditional healthcare product industry," says risk & policy analyst Ron Law.

Australian Federal Court documents reveal that TGA officials embarked on an orchestrated litany of lies, falsified evidence, shredded documents and fraudulently claimed that there was an 'imminent risk' of death and serious harm, despite knowing that its expert advisory committee had concluded there was no serious risk.

Officials even falsified the advice of the solicitor general during a briefing to the then Australian Prime Minister.

The New Zealand government initiated an mandatory recall of hundreds of safe products in New Zealand in May 2003 on the basis of Australia's deceit and fraud.

Helen Clark and Kevin Rudd must now formally consign the much maligned [proposed] joint Trans-Tasman Therapeutic Goods Agency to the history books.

The Australian TGA has claimed for years that it is a world class regulator. Now we know that they are drug cheats of the worst kind; a regulator unfit to regulate!

The revelations in the Federal Court resulted in the Australian government paying out nearly $NZ 70 million to the majority shareholder of Pan Pharmaceuticals.

Industry sources suggest that claims by the rest of the Australian and New Zealand natural and traditional healthcare product industry will reach over $100 million in further payouts with New Zealand companies preparing claims against the Australian and New Zealand governments for in excess of $30 million.

When a so-called world class regulator is found to have committed the crimes that the TGA has then a formal inquiry is a no brainer.

Other examples of the TGA at least authenticating fraud, if not being a direct party to it, extend back to the Royal Jellygate scandal of the late 1990's.

Despite a New Zealand Parliament Regulations Review Select Committee and subsequent independent scientific review finding that New Zealand regulators had abused their powers based on shonky evidence provided by the TGA, the New Zealand labour government introduced draconian and unjustifiable labelling requirements on certain bee products based on that shonky evidence.

TGA's vindictive behaviour has also permeated to New Zealand regulators. Companies that opposed the proposed joint agency were subject to unwarranted random GMP audits that cost companies in some cases six figure sums. This also requires investigation.

The one positive to come from the Federal Court revelations is that some of the reasons for Australian and New Zealand industry's contempt and disdain for the Australian regulator have now been formally revealed.

"There is no place in a modern democratic society for a regulator like the Australian Therapeutic Goods Agency," says Ron Law, "Mr Rudd, do the decent thing and establish a formal inquiry to unearth the extent of the regulatory malfeasance and then provide Australia with an honest regulator, fit for purpose."

May the TGA Rest in Peace.

ENDS

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