TPP example: Monsanto to sue Vermont - US

This is a perfect example of what will happen if the US is allowed to export it's social failure to Australia, via the Trans Pacific Partnership agreement. We will be left without our sovereign powers as multinational corporations will be able to sue our gov for lost revenue.

So Vermont decides to enact food labeling laws for the good of the people, requiring labels to say if the product contains genetically modified ingredients. Surely a noble thing to do? Surely it's a consumer's right to know what they're eating? Not if you're a producer of genetically modified food it's not.

Monsanto is gearing up to sue the entire state of Vermont for enacting these laws, saying labeling with genetically modified things on the label will give a false impression to consumers and they'll think it's bad to eat, insulting the intelligence of consumers who are quite capable of making up their own mind if they want to eat such things or not.

Vermont will become the first state to enact a law requiring labels on foods with genetically modified ingredients after the governor signed the bill into law on Thursday afternoon. The bill will go into effect in July 2016. 

"I am proud of Vermont for being the first state in the nation to ensure that Vermonters will know what is in their food. The Legislature has spoken loud and clear through its passage of this bill," Gov. Peter Shumlin (D-Vt.) said in a statement after the bill passed. "I wholeheartedly agree with them and look forward to signing this bill into law.” 

However, the law may not withstand legal challenges from major food companies like Monsanto Co. and DuPont Co - the leading producers of GMO crops. They are widely expected to sue the state over the law. To defend the legislation, Vermont allocated a $1.5 million legal defense fund in the measure, to be paid for with settlements won by the state. However, even this amount might not be enough to cover the state’s legal bills. 

As RT reported, Monsanto, DuPont, Kraft Foods Co. and others previously led the charge against the similar labeling legislation in California and Washington state, grossly outspending supporters of the measure that was eventually defeated in both states, with anti-labeling groups spending $22 million of the $28 million total spent on that campaign in Washington. more 

Is this what we want for Australia? The federal gov is already in court over it's cigarette plain packaging laws with Philip Morris suing through, of all things, a free trade agreement Australia has with Hong Kong.

Why should corporations decide what is good or bad for us, and not our elected gov's?