Abbott puts PBS in danger

Abbott is eager to rush into signing what is called the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement, which is a free trade agreement of the Pacific rim nations. He wants to sign by Christmas. However, he's putting back on the table in the negotiations what even the Howard gov wasn't willing to negotiate on. Namely, Investor-State dispute settlement provisions, which means foreign companies can sue Australian gov's if those companies can't have complete access to Australian markets.

The Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), provides access to affordable medicines to all Australians through the gov subsidising them. My HIV medication for example, would cost upwards of $10,000 a year if I had to pay full price for it. I pay only $11.80 for two months supply with the gov paying the rest. This means that people with HIV here can be treated properly for HIV, having follow on effects of reduced infection rates and overall better health of those HIV+. But this PBS of ours would be something that a US drug company may well consider as blocking their access to our markets and therefore sue the Australian gov.

I dunno WTF drugs Abbott is on, but to threaten something as hallowed here as our PBS to suck up to the US is fuckin obscene man. This from the AMWU:

The Abbott Government has agreed with foreign powers to put Investor-State Dispute Settlement provisions (ISDS) back on the table in its ongoing negotiations as part of Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement. 

The Rudd and Gillard governments, and even the Howard Government, regarded ISDS as a non-starter. ISDS would hand foreign companies the legal right to sue Australian governments for policies they think will block their unfettered access to our markets and any resulting potential profits. 

In its opposition to ISDS provisions, the AMWU is united with the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, consumer groups and international law experts. 

Many US drug companies regard the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, which subsidises medicines for all Australians, as an infringement on their free trade rights and are eager to challenge it if handed that right under the TPPA. 

ISDS provisions in the North American Free Trade Agreement are being used by a US mining company to sue the Quebec Government in Canada for $250 million because it dared to have an environmental review of shale oil mining. 

“We can’t let that happen here – imagine the implications for NSW, where the Government has moved to exclude large areas from the risks of coal seam gas drilling,” Mr Dettmer said. more

This whole "free trade" thing is bullshit anyway. Australia already has one of the most open economies in the world. Go tell the US to drop their import barriers before having them come here and attacking our PBS. It should be Fair Trade, not free trade.