TPPA - The People Prefer Accountability

The Conservative Party are by no means opposed to trade agreements with other countries, but the secrecy surrounding the negotiations and the lack of disclosure of real detail with regard to the TPPA, accompanied by the fobbing off of serious questions by Government Ministers since agreement was met, has created wide spread concern in the populace.

In November 2015, the poll conducted by Consumer Link showed 65% of New Zealanders thought the Government should make the contents of the agreement public before the negotiations were completed and the agreement signed. The current public outcry seems to indicate that little has changed.

The Conservative Party agrees totally with the principle of the provision of full and clear information allowing open public debate on such important issues. There are too many questions left unanswered to be able to support the signing of this agreement without full disclosure.

“We can understand the need for some confidentiality during negotiations, but now that the agreement has been reached behind closed doors, surely it is time we, the people, know what we, the people, are signing up for,” says Conservative Party spokesman Leighton Baker.

“Questions remain concerning the power given to large corporates, foreign ownership of land and buildings, and the potential loss of sovereignty as a nation among other things. These should be openly and thoroughly discussed before any signing of this agreement takes place. The diminishing accountability within our government has already seen us lose our position as the least corrupt country in the world. The key to good government is accountability.

“Government ministers need to remember that they are Public servants, to serve the people, and representatives, to represent the people, not to rule over them,” concludes Mr Baker.

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