FTA

Australia is on the verge of gaining better access to the greatest and largest market on the face of the globe and all Labour can do is use the agreement as a US bashing exercise. If the trade agreement was with another market there wouldn’t be a whisper. Latham, by his antics, can only be described as Anti American and we all know where the left sit on this matter. As Janet ALBRECHTSEN notes

WHILE the ALP may have given a slow-motion thumbs up to Australia’s free trade agreement with the US, it will do little to allay fears that anti-Americanism is still writ large on the party’s psyche.

That’s the worry. It might look like clever posturing on Lathams behalf but I can’t see the voter being over concerned by the small details of the patents on drugs. They will just see it as anti-American and that will be dangerous baggage for Labour to carry to the election. For a long time now Latham has said we will reserve our stand on the FTA until our Senate enquirie comes up with a recommendation. The enquirie has now come up with a recommendation…..It’s good for Australia accept it… but he has to pay homage to left-wing members and his own anti-Americanism. Let’s see. How can I let everyone know I’m anti-American and gain political mileage out of this? I know. I’ll put in some conditions. That way we won’t look like we folded under pressure. Left wing still not happy, voters confused and rolling eyes and all Howard is trying to do is stitch up a deal with the Yanks.