STOP MAI

MEDIA RELEASE -for immediate release, 19 October, 1998 Authorised by the STOP-MAI Campaign Coalition (WA) Website http://members.iinet.net.au/~jenks/fair.html Affiliated with the Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network (AFTInet) and with the World Social Forum (WSF)

19 October, 1998 [Personal delivery was arranged to both recipients]

The Chairman,
MAI Negotiating Group, OECD
Paris, France

Through The Hon John Howard

Prime Minister of Australia

Dear Sir,

We consider the draft Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI) to be damaging to Australians' sovereignty and parliamentary independence. We urge that it not be proceeded with.

The purpose of the MAI is to regulate governments as a means of liberalising investment. The draft MAI treaty unacceptably elevates the rights of transnational corporations above those of elected governments, communities, citizens, workers and the environment. This is totally unacceptable.

MAI negotiations have been conducted by governments representing the 29 OECD countries, which are the richest countries in the world. Participation of non-OECD countries and organisations representing the interests of workers, consumers, farmers, the environment, social justice and human rights has been minimal.

WE CALL ON THE OECD AND THE GOVERNMENT OF AUSTRALIA TO:

• Undertake an independent and comprehensive assessment of the social, environmental and developmental impact of the MAI with full public participation. The negotiations should be suspended during this assessment;
• Require multinational investors to observe established standards of environmental protection, labour, health, safety and human rights;
• Put into place open dispute-resolution mechanisms for determination in Australian courts of law;
• Give the community effective new powers to hold investors to account;
• Ensure that governments do not have to pay for the right to set environmental, labour, health and safety standards, even if compliance with such regulations imposes financial obligations and losses on investors;
• Reject any terms which restrict the right of elected governments to improve standards and/or to effect withdrawal from the MAI under reasonable notice, e.g., six months.

In sincerity and trust

THE UNDERSIGNED AUSTRALIAN ORGANISATIONS AND CITIZENS

[Condensed version for media distribution]
ORGANISATIONS Endorsing Australian People for Health Education & Development Abroad Australian Conservation Foundation Australian Education Union, Victoria Branch Australian Greens Australian Peace Committee (SA Branch) Inc Braidwood Greens CEPU, Electrical Division, Qld CEPU T&S Branch, Qld Canossian Daughters of Charity (Qld) Community Aid Abroad (SA, WA) Community and Public Sector Union (ACT) East Liverpool Progress Association (NSW) Economic Reform Australia Edmund Rice Family, St Patrick's Province FILEF Community Centre Geelong Community Forum, Inc Good Shepherd Sisters Social Justice Network Guardian newspaper Human Rights Council of Australia Inc Institute for Global Futures Research International Pursuits KC Media Products Longie & Associates M-D Palm Computing (Australia) Melbourne University Student Union Missionary Sisters of Service, Vic National Tertiary Education Union News Leaf BDFGAA Presentation Justice Desk (Vic) Presentation Srs & Christian Bros for Justice Progressive Labour Party Queensland Presentation Sisters Social Action Office – Brisbane Soroptimist International (Australia) Soroptomist International of Sydney Stop MAI (Australia) Campaign Coalition Tenants' Union of NSW The Greens (WA) The Happiness Academy TOES (The Other Economic Summit), Aust. Trades and Labor Council of WA Urban Ecology Australia Inc Rally for Peace and Nuclear Disarmament SEARCH Foundation (NSW) United Nations Youth Association (ACT) United Trades & Labor Council (SA)	Uniting Church in Australia (NSW) Victorian Trades Hall Council Western Economic Forum ORGANISATIONS Represented Action for World Development (NSW Inc) Action for World Development, Brisbane Adelaide Fountain Group Aid/Watch (NSW) Amnesty International (WA Branch) ANU Students' Association Arid Lands Environment Centre AUSTAND Australia First Party Australian National University Australian Women's Intra Network Bible Believers' Church (NSW) Catholic Justice and Peace Commission Centre for Union Research and Education Christian Brothers (Victoria and Tasmania), Christians Respecting Earth And The Environment (CREATE), QLD Commonwealth Public Sector Union (WA) Community Aid Abroad Community Futures Network, Qld Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union, Constr and General Division, Curtin University of Technology Dept of Environment, Heritage and Aboriginal Affairs Distance Education Centre FairWear Campaign Flinders University of South Australia Geraldton Community Legal Centre Good Shepherd Community (Vic) Green Skills Inc, Denmark WA Griffith University, Queensland Inst. for Science and Technology Policy, WA Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology, Sydney Institute of Environmental Studies, University of New South Wales James Cook University JNA Telecommunications La Trobe University Lander & Rogers Solicitors LaTrobe Regional Hospital Launceston College	Longie&Associates Mercy Care Centre, Young, NSW Monash University Murdoch University National Civic Council New College Institute for Values Research Office of the Status of Women, SA Parliament of NSW Parliamentary Staff, Victoria People for Nuclear Disarmament (WA) Physicians for Social Responsibility Powerhouse Museum, Sydney Queensland Conservation Council Queensland University of Technology Randwick City Council Redcliffe City Council, QLD Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology Senate, Parliament House, Canberra Sisters of Charity of Australia, NSW Sisters of Mercy Enoggera Community, Qld Sisters of Mercy, Goulburn, NSW Sisters of Mercy Townsville, QLD Sisters of the Good Samaritan Social Justice Catalyst Committee St Patrick's College Goulburn NSW Standing for Truth About Radiation. Sustainable Energy Development Authority Swinburne University of Technology Tasmanian Conservation Trust The Greens (NSW) The Strategy, Bendigo, Vic. University of Adelaide University of Ballarat University of Newcastle University of Queensland University of South Australia University of Tasmania University of Technology Sydney University of Western Australia University of Western Sydney University of Wollongong Wollongong City Council Women Out Loud Women’s Action for Nuclear Disarmament Women's Electoral Lobby (SA, NSW, Vic) Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (Australia) Women's Legal Service Inc World Sustainable Agriculture Association.
Individual Signatories Senator Dee Margetts Senator Margaret Reynolds Hon. Dr Meredith Burgmann Jean A Jenkins (ex-Senator) Dr Helen Caldicott Hon Doug Everingham MB BS (ex-Health Minister) Beatrice Faust Andre Frankovits Anna Pha, Editor, ‘Guardian’ Professor Mark Diesendorf Leigh Hubbard (Sec VTHC) Tony Cooke (Sec TLC WA) Stephen Spence (UTLC, SA) Grahame McCulloch, NTEU Kerrie Christian Jacinta Lithgow Elaine de Saxe Vince Englart V. Williams Judy and David Ferguson Pat Elphinston Noreen Hewett Paul Jennings Kinley Renshall Kath and D. Syme Assoc Prof Frank Stilwell	Peter Murphy Margaret McLellan Elizabeth Johnston Lillian Tennison AO,QC Judy M Morley Frances Milne M. Corey Watts Richard Sanders Gordon Grant Dr Dion Giles Graham Palmer Graham Baker Alan Griffiths Dr John Hermann Jan Jermalinski Leisa Hutchings Brian J Jenkins John Massam Rochelle Siemienowicz Miriam Solomon Virginia Mansel Lees Helen Gollan Sandi Smith John Squires Thomas Gregory Byrnes Julie Rose McPhee Pauline Freeman David Banner Peter McGregor	Anna Reynolds Misha Coleman Diana Drljacic Dr Jonathan Charles Watts Nadarajah Sriskandarajah Judith Clarkin Robert Comfiey Teresa Borwick Mary Anne Kenny Matthew Charles Lamont Amanda Bolleter Emeritus Prof Martyn Webb Stancea Vichie Jason Rice Daniel Alroy Max Lettner Adam Coulthard Paul Horn Alex Karydis Dr K.G.Johnson Joo Cheong Tham Chris Harris Len and Suzanne Wilkins Margo Beilby David Kault Ian Jackson And 360 others

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PHONE CONTACTS: Brian Jenkins +61 8 9528 1864; Dion Giles 0411 745 538