The Greens will act in the first week of the Abbott parliament to end the secrecy around the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) trade talks.
 
“After attending the briefing put on by Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) on Wednesday, which the government banned journalists from reporting, I’m more concerned than ever about the current process in place and how the lack of transparency threatens Australia’s future sovereignty,” said Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, Australian Greens spokesperson on trade.
 

With the Gillard government now committed to opposing a central demand of US negotiators in the Trans Pacific Partnership free trade negotiations, the deal is dead in the water unless the USA agrees to drop its demand for Investor State Dispute Settlement provisions or allows Australia an exclusion provision, the Australian Greens.

On questioning from the Greens in Question Time today, the government made it clear that it "does not support provisions that would confer greater legal rights on foreign businesses than those available to domestic businesses".

Senator Milne asks Senator Conroy about Investor State Dispute Settlement in the Trans Pacific Partnership in Senate Question Time

There are a number of things I would like to do today but I can't.

I would like to talk to you about the detail of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) - but I can't, the draft text is being negotiated in secret.

I would like to reassure you that the US negotiators aren't demanding changes to our domestic policies - but I can't and the leaks suggest they are.

I would like to explain how the draft agreement will impact on the regulation of intellectual property in Australia - but I can't, it's confidential.