Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

My question is for the Minister representing the Minister for Trade, Senator Conroy. I refer the minister to recent reports that Philip Morris has launched action challenging the government's plain packaging legislation under the investor state dispute provisions contained in Australia's bilateral trade agreement with Hong Kong. At the recent APEC meeting, Prime Minister Gillard announced that Australia was committed to a new trade agreement with the US and other Pacific nations. Will the government rule out committing Australia to any new treaty that contains similar dispute provisions that have the potential to restrict the government's ability to pursue important public health reforms?