"Every single provision in the text of the agreement (the AUS/USA FTA)as it applies to drugs is to favour the US companies, to increase the prices, to ultimately reduce access to cheap, affordable drugs in Australia. There's no question about it."

- David Henry, Professor of Clinical Pharmacology at the University of Newcastle and a former Chairman of the Government's Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee

Latham tried his best to do what little he could, to ensure we (Australian consumers) have access to some of the cheapest medicines in the world. I thank him for that.

The FTA is weighted in favour of the US. Australia will not see any benefit at all.

"The bottom line is that there is no US commitment to free trade. It is really a commitment to getting other countries to give access to American producers to their markets and the US reciprocates when it is convenient."

- Professor Joseph Stiglitz, Nobel Laureate in Economic

David, You are absolutly right about the state of Australian journalists. Most seem to want to report only the opinions they are told and pretend it is news.
In some cases the reporters actualy seem to think THEY are the news.

This country could really use some top notch investigative reporters - the ground is fertile.
But, alas, it is hard. A good reporter would need to really understand his subject matter and do research prior to interviewing news makers. And worse, he may no longer be included in a desirous elite circle of acquaintences in high places.

The current political interview techniques seem to be no more than an infomercial for the candidate. This allows the polly to express outrageous exagerations and half truths with no fear of having to defend his ludicrous position.

David Flint you shouldn't attempt scholarly analysis while at the same time harbouring an obvious vidictive grudge against your subject. Your article is illogical and rambling and doesn't add anything to any debate.

Is this the same David Flint who championed the cash-for-comment king, Alan Jones while he (Flint) held a high public office designed to monitor media manipulation? And the same David Flint who used his office for partisan causes like the retention of the monarchy? Is this David Flint in receipt of superannuation attaching to his former public position?

Please spare us the hypocrisy.

An example of the "evergreening" that David Flint seems to dismiss.

Thalidomide, you know that nasty drug that was given for morning sickness. Developed in Germany after the second world war. Cheap as chips for a 50 year old drug.

Celgene, a US biotech company obtains the rights to this drug and repackages it as Thalomid (same drug) This drug is of use in Multiple Myoloma. It now sells this 50 year old drug for US$60 per pill, US$30,000 per treatment.

This is why we need to stop evergreening.

Oh! David: How can a bloke who claims to be educated and intelligent come up with the tripe you do, not just once either, is beyond me.

I will write on the photographer and Latham only.
We all know that the paper? in question is one of rupert's rags. We also know that ALL rupert's so-called news papers are rabidly pro-howard, pro-liberal.
Could this paper, knowing the likely reaction from Latham have set the bloke up on orders from on high?
Again if you read the liberal journal err I mean the australian you would have noticed yet another attack on the ABC.
Those attackers appear to be liberal/howard backers. Now whether they attack on orders from the party or maybe they are trying to ingrate themselves with the 'power' for a seat on the board, and easy money - who knows.
But along with the attack on Latham it does seem to be orchestrated. And I may add a typical low liberal attack. Like the piggery, the queer judge, Hanson and Kernot. The last was done by a fair?, fearless?, impartial?? investigative? journalist? from the rupert stables.