July 08, 2015
Claim real threat to TPPA says Turei
Greens leader Metiria Turei says claimants need to persist in their efforts to put the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement under the scrutiny of the Waitangi Tribunal.
Crown Law has told the tribunal there is no point in holding an urgent inquiry because the agreement could be signed this week.
Among other things the TPPA could allow multinational corporations to sue governments if their health or environmental policies cut into profits.
Ms Turei says the crown is being consistent in trying to stop the tribunal looking into its actions.
"Maori in the past have stopped these agreements. The MAI (Multilateral Agreement on Investment) was a classic example. A huge Maori campaign based around the treaty stopped the MAI going ahead. So it's quie possible for a treaty claim before the tribunal to be successful and to show exactly how the TPPA would breach the treaty and I think it's totally worth pursuing," she says.
Ms Turei says there is still no evidence the agreement will do good, and lots of indications it will do harm.
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