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Free trade agreements in the Aisan region have spent the last seven or so years in negotiation for good reason - there is a lot at stake, they are complex, and we have been too hasty in signing some of them in the past. This has come back to bite us recently in the form of the Hong Kong investment agreement.
When a government finds it difficult to implement health policy because of such an agreement, the stakes are more than just about trade.
Many people are understandably concerned about the TTP which is currently being negotiated between Australia and other pacific nations, most notably the US. This is a highly secretive process and reportedly includes an Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS), the same provision that has allowed Phillip Morris Asia to take the Australian government to court over the plain packaging legislation. There are more details on that here.
The Abbott government's first seven months in power have been a complete shambles as they have lurched from one scandal and crisis to the next. They are understandably looking to put a single win on the board.
In a short period, Tony Abbott and Scott Morrison have been going bald before our eyes, such is the height of their stress over their clearly visible incompetence. And Abbott has gone from one international gaffe to another - upsetting Indonesia over the spying revelations, calling every Asian nation he visits our best friend, and most notably his inept performance at Davos. People would rather walk away from Abbott than engage in moronic small talk with and Economic Illitterate... for example in the video below.
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Economic commentator Peter Cai sees few positives. The National Farmers' Federation (who Abbott said would be the big winners) said the results fell well short of expectations. Even LNP Federal Member George Christensen said there was 'no significant benefit' for farmers. That was until Andrew Robb 'set him straight' (in other words told him to pull his head in and not ruin the Mad Monk's only moment in the sun).
Lucky for Abbott - he seems to live in this dream world where a more than 5% drop in support for the Senate in a blue ribbon Liberal state such as WA is evidence he has a mandate to remove the Carbon and Mining taxes... which themselves will usher in a million new jobs (he hopes and prays). Maybe, as he suggests, Tony Abbott believes he is leading a competent government and all his ministers are doing a great job which has the support of most Australians. I think there is evidence to the contrary. My suggestion, keep an eye on Abbott's rapidly receding hairline, and the deepening lines in his once youthful face. He looks like a leader one small gust of a political headwind from falling off his perch, or perhaps being pushed off by his frightened Coalition colleagues.
One Term Tony might in fact be wishful thinking... on Abbott's part.