Secrecy is the enemy of fairness.

Australia's environmental, labour, and health and safety laws are threatened by a free trade agreement, the RCEP, currently being negotiated between Australia, New Zealand, China, India, South Korea and the ten member countries of ASEAN - about half of the world's population. How can we ensure trade is globally fair, safe and environmentally friendly?

Speakers:

Dr Pat Ranald

Convenor Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network (AFTINET) & Research Fellow, University of Sydney.

Dr Ranald will speak about the RCEP, a massive traded deal currently being negotiated in secret. Her focus will be Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provisions which allow companies to sue governments when changes to environmental, labour, health, safety and other laws reduce profit. The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme is potentially at risk.

Anna Spoore 

Vice Chair Fair Trade Association Australia and New Zealand. Director of Uplift Fair Trade in Katoomba St, Katoomba.

What is fair? How does "fair trade" differ from other trade models? Anna Spoore will define Fair Trade and its principles according to the Fair Trade Charter which was established last year.

Alison Rahill

Executive Officer, Anti-Slavery Taskforce, Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney.

How do we know if the products we buy have been ethically produced? Alison Rahill will speak about Fair Trade supply lines and the work of the Anti Slavery taskforce which has developed the "Shop for Good", ethical purchasing guide.

SPEAKERS WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A Q&A FROM THE AUDIENCE

Tickets to this event are free but, if you wish,

you can support the work of Blue Mountains Unions & Community by making an online donation.

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