This week, Cory Bernardi is justifiably flattered by Labor's imitation of the Australian Conservatives' policy on free trade.

“Labor is announcing plans for … a 10-year review of all (free trade) agreements, to ensure they live up to the public's expectations”, according to Jason Clare .

We all know how long the Labor Party has been around, letting things drift, but the website of the Australian Conservatives, who have been around for about 9 months, shows that their policy is to “... revisit all free trade agreements every ten years to ensure they are aligned with our national interest.” Pinched by backward, policy-free Labor.

The major parties have certainly gone well past their use by date, and the Australian Conservatives are a good bet for conservative voters in the next federal election, and in the SA state election next year, where the underwhelming Liberals, have come up with a Save Australia Day campaign, also filched from the Australian Conservatives.

With dark days ahead assured by the Liberals and Green Labor, Australian Conservatives give a glimmer of hope for Australians concerned about their country going backward.

Problem.

The free trade agreements are mostly written by or on behalf of big business.

They have so many restrictions on changes or getting out, a signatory just can't walk away from them once signed.

Dear Ttbn,

Sorry, but the Conservative party started on the left foot.

A true conservative with family values does not send robots to harass families on the phone, not even for a just cause.

Unless they learn quickly that means are at least as important as ends, the Australian Conservatives prove no different to any other gangster.

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Regarding the FTA's, yes, scrap them all.

Regarding Philip's problem, one way to work around it is to dismantle the Commonwealth, which is the only signatory. The independent Australian states never signed the FTAs. Big Business can then go and sue the Commonwealth of Australia... if they can find it...

With this dysfunctional Governments MP's falling like nine pins, and Money Bags Malcolm no longer commanding a majority in the lower house."ITS TIME" for an election.

ttbn I can't agree with "a 10-year review of all (free trade) agreements, to ensure they live up to the public's expectations”.

It should be every 5 years in my opinion. Too much damage can be done waiting 10 years and then some.

Yuyutsu,

I think all parties cold call now. I'm not in the 'phone book, so I don't know. I agree with you on that, though.

Paul,

How about a compromise and go with Yuyutsu's solution: no free trade aggreements. I do not like them, and I liked them even less after Robb got a big-bucks job with a Chinese firm just after he signed an FTA with China. Should help him out with his parliamentary pension, poor bloke.

Philip,

Big business can't sign up to anything without government say so. It is entirely a political scam.

Travelicious,

Bugger off.