Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

Mr President, my question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Trade and Investment, Senator Cormann. As the senator would be aware, in the 2010 blue book prepared for the potential incoming coalition government, the Treasury warned:

… the potential benefits of [free trade agreements] under negotiation had been oversold and their negatives largely ignored.

The Treasury then cautioned that the coalition should:

… avoid bindings that limit future domestic policy flexibility. Exercise caution in accepting … investor-state dispute settlement—

commonly known as ISDS provisions. The Treasury has clearly issued a red flag to the government on free trade agreements, and it is warned not to risk our national sovereignty. Why is the government going against Treasury advice by including ISDS provisions in the TPPA and the Korean free trade agreement, and what safeguards is it putting in place to limit future litigation against the Australian people for simply creating legislation on their behalf?