|
Resolution
number GBI/2015/133
MOVED
by Chairperson IM Fordham, seconded by Deputy Chairperson SP Daly:
That the Great Barrier
Local Board:
a)
Supports the initiative of the Albert-Eden Local Board in
calling for more openness on Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement negotiations.
b)
Seeks clarification from the Minister of Trade on
how the Auckland Council Regional Development and Operations
Committee’s 6 December 2012 resolutions on this subject are being
addressed in current negotiations.
c)
Make available to all Auckland Council Local Boards
and Auckland Citizens the government’s response to these resolutions and an
analysis of the adequacy of undertakings to address the committee’s concerns.
d)
Notes and supports the following resolutions passed
by the Albert-Eden Local Board at its 2 September 2015 meeting:
i)
While the proposed Trans Pacific Partnership
Agreement (TPPA) will hopefully generate economic benefits to New Zealand
through increased trading opportunities for exporters, there are also
significant potential risks to our sovereignty, environment and way of life;
ii)
The TPPA negotiations have been conducted over the
last eight years without any public disclosure of the contents let alone
consultation or adequate debate about its principles or provisions;
iii)
The only publicly available information about the
detail of the proposed treaty has come about through partial leaks and
overseas sources;
iv)
Much of this so-called free-trade agreement consists
of provisions to protect the interests of multi-national corporations,
including investor-state rules that would allow multi-national companies to
sue our government for damages in secret extra-legal tribunals if laws or
regulations or policies of either local or central government affected their
ability to trade or make a profit within New Zealand;
v)
The resolution of Auckland Council on 20th December
2012, and in particular clause xii which calls for TPPA negotiations to be
conducted with “real public consultation including regular public releases of
the text of the agreement and ratification being conditional on a full
social, environmental and economic assessment including public submissions”;
vi)
The Government has apparently ignored the Regional
Development and Operations Committee’s resolutions, and similar resolutions
from other Councils and numerous other public interest organisations and
stubbornly refuses to release any meaningful information about the contents
of the treaty.
e)
Requests that these resolutions and background
information be circulated to the Mayor, Governing Body, and all other Local
Boards.
CARRIED
|
