Submission to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Select Committe, May 2008

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Summary

The CTU has consistently raised the risks of a free trade agreement with China. However we have also recognised that the overwhelming majority of the countries in the world are negotiating free trade agreements and already some 2000 have been signed.

The CTU is opposed to a neo liberal approach to free trade that seeks to break down any barriers to the unfettered access by multinational corporations to land, resources, workers, culture, plant life and so on. We oppose a globalisation agenda that treats labour as a commodity, weakens food security and prohibits nations from controlling their economies in the interests of their people. 

Submission to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Select Committee, May 2007

Submission to the Transport and Industrial Relations Select Committe,  October 2007

Statement by CTU president to the International Labour Organisation Committee on the Application of Standards relating to breaches by the Federal Government of Australia of Conventions 87 & 98

The Challenge of China: transforming New Zealand

I welcome the opportunity to speak to such an eminent group of business , professional and public service leaders. Some of you may recall that I last spoke here quite a few years ago on the initiative of my late friend Bernie Knowles who was then a member of the Club.

CTU president Ross Wilsons speech to the Australia-New Zealand Leadership Forum, 29-30 April 2005.

The starting point for what I want to say is to put labour market issues in the context of the fact that Australia and New Zealand have a closer economic partnership, have been exploring a range of harmonisation proposals, and are both involved in significant FTA negotiations with China and in an ASEAN-plus context.

From the CTU policy book, produced November 2000.
11. INTERNATIONAL : GENERAL ISSUES

11.1 General
11.1.1 The CTU recognises the right of all peoples to:
(i) Self determination;