Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement
It is long past time the New Zealand Government took the people into its confidence and explained their position on the
TPPA. There is a lot of information floating about through leaks on Wikileaks etc but our elected representative along
with their list colleagues are hell bent on keeping New Zealanders ignorant of the gains and losses attributable to this
so called free trade agreement.
Firstly Hon Tim Grosser answered some questions I put to him in a letter to the Timaru Herald stating this government
had carried out more consultation on the TPPA than any other trade agreement. He neglected to say however who the
consultation was with. He also stated the agreement would not be signed unless it was advantageous to New Zealanders but
neglected to say which New Zealanders, The Haves or Have Nots.
Our Prime Minister has stated the treaty would not be signed if it affected the
way in which Pharmac buys pharmaceuticals required for treating New Zealanders yet he has just admitted the
pharmaceutical corporates are expecting
to extend their patent rights from 20 years to 27 years. This of course will mean it will be a lot longer before generic
medecines are available. He stated
also that the Government would pick up the difference but neglected to say that some drugs may no longer be available
because of the extra expense. This
piece of information can be checked in Hansard.
It is common knowledge that the only way members of the TPPA alliance can find out what is in the agreement is to sign
it and who in their right minds
would sign any document without first examining it. The latest from WikiLeaks is that TPPA means all SOEs will be
privatised and
run for profit and this is quite believable because of the taking over of the Canterbury Regional Council by Government
appointed commissioners and the
threatened takeover of the Southern District Health Board.
Grey Power members all over New Zealand are waiting to hear their fate and what the government has in store for them if
or when this document is signed
End.