Since the fall of the USSR, the push for free trade has gained remarkable impetus. There were, however, thirty new Mexican billionaires created during the same period. More big businesses operating in Australia are owned by foreign transnationals than are owned by Australians. Sir, the purpose of Universities is to advance societal knowledge and therefore society as a whole, not to provide ungrateful corporations with semi-trained graduates. Child and spouse abuse, marriage breakups, rape and violent crime are on the increase.
Child labour is in widespread use in most developing countries.
Neo-classic economics and free trade are ideologies, as is pure protectionism. Neither approaches work. A sensible balance is required if government is to perform its designated task of protecting citizens and providing for the future welfare of the nation and its people. If your government passes sovereignty of Australia over to transnational corporations by signing the MAI, you risk going down in history as one of this country's worst traitors. I voted for you in the hope that you would change things for the better.