A Government has the responsibility to follow the best interests of all its citizens, business and allies. We live in a democracy and a country with a long history of lobbying for free trade.

One of John Howard's proudest moment was the signing of the Australia and US Free Trade Agreement. Many of us were cautious as the implications were wide reaching. Clearly no Australian Government or Minister, under the agreement, is allowed to be involved in unfair trade practices that inhibits trade with the US. The essence of these are bold and clear in the contract.

Meanwhile, back at the Life Decisions International movement, Keven Andrews, The Howard Government's Immigration Minister is actively lobbying for boycotting American companies.

In the Sun Herald 5/8/07 page 3, Keven Andrews has been disclosed for declaring a boycott on GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, eBay, Four Seasons Hotel and even Walt Disney. Such a boycott declared by a Government Minister is clearly in breach of the FTA fair trade agreement.

The United States Government and or the Corporations could have it in their rights to sue Kevin Andrews for damage to their companies reputation.

Whether this is about Kevin Andrew's agenda to stop RU486, Hollywood, or Hotels with nylon curtains or whatever is beside the point. A Minister for a Government must show discipline to run a country, even if she or he has personal moral beliefs. His personal agenda puts our trade at risk with the US. This is irresponsible.

If the Liberals couldn't care less, leave him there and fall even lower. If the Liberals have a flying chance of keeping a responsible Government that follows treaties with the US, should he be kicked out as "too risky"? The longer people like Kevin Andrews stay there, the lower this Government will fall.

If the FTA doesn't matter, why an earth are we hosting APEC?

Australia is demonstrating that in trade, it can't be trusted. It's up to the Liberal Party to prove any different.

To see this read out by +++The Saint+++, re-William S Burroughs, you can link this to You Tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rr4GoRLNGBo

SF.
American companies are a target. Kevin Andrews seems to be one hundred percent what we need.
I didnt know he was doing that so thanks for posting your information.
It would seem to me we have the right Minister for Aborignal Affairs pluss the role of Kevin Andrews has served us well.

Any body who claims the howard Government have opped aboriginal affairs up before an election are ignorant fools.
The Ministerhas been working tirelsly on it since he was appointed and hes a darn good bloke.
I was impressed by his stand against bail for the Gold Coast Dr.
What the public needs to know is he gets far more information that the public.
And thats how it should be.
Be it Howard or Rudd- One thing that wont escape either mans eye is this turn against our own leaders and values.
Now might be a good time to close the borders for a while.
At least until we have ten years supply in our dams anyway.

I think howard and Rudd need to sit and talk about how they intend to hold this country.

The bottom line is Free Trade is not good for Australia either with the deals being mostly to others advantage.
No wonder the farmers are leaving in droves.

Wake up Australia.
Kevin Andrews
We need a dozen more of you. We also need to be rid of Mark vaile and Downer with their cruel disregard of live exports.
The Nationals are traitors to farmers.

I certainly think that its dangerous, to have people at the highest
level of Government, involved with fanatical religious organisastions
like LDI.

IIRC it was also Andrews who was heavily involved in preventing
euthanasia in the NT. Hopefully the electors will finally
throw him out on his ear at the next election.

Yet another failed Minister from a failing State
The only Ministers in Howard's government that seem
to really want to do their work well are ones' that
determine how much we CAN'T spend on all things that
enhance humanity. Roll on election

For the record, I am not defending the FTA or APEC. The problem is that we are the ones, the farmers the business people the consumers who are told to tow the line with the FTA. These days, I'm quite indifferent to this.

But when a Government Minister lobbies for unfair trade practices against the FTA which could be seen as a breach of contract and the US could legally sue the Australian Government, just like they threatened to sue Canada in the early days of NAFTA, things may not be that friendly between Australia and the US in the APEC summit.

No matter how far Howard crawls to Bush, the US Government will not tolerate a Government that has Ministers lobbying to boycott their trade.

They can't have it both ways. They are either a Free Trade Government, or a backward Luddite bunch of religious fundamentalists.

If they are a bunch of Luddite religious fundamentalists that threaten business and trade in Australia's economy, how could they possibly be members of the Liberal Party? Having him in Government makes a mockery of what it is to be a Liberal.

Yabbs
There you are. The last I heard you were in the back padock with Miss Piggy.
I didnt know Andrews was doing that!
Ok I will change teams in that case.
Anybody who tries to stop others dying with dignity ought to be long gone.
I suppose when you think about it- It fits.
votes the Churches.
How sickening.
Pity really because I liked his stand against being bullied by the good doer`s on sercurity.

Kevin Andrews introduced a private members bill, which was religiously motivated, to overturn the Northern Territories Terminally Ill of 1995. This most foul piece of handiwork was passed by the Commonwealth Parliament on 24th of March 1997.

Another case of a religious zealot totally disregarding the overwhelming will of the people of the Northern Territory and indeed, most Australian people in general.

I don't care how religious anybody is including Kevin Andrews, but when they reach the stage of religious persecution of others, then I must object in the strongest possible terms. Lets look for another figure head to guard us from American big business.

Here here here.
And thank you Aimie.
Well said!
How dare the ploys trade off humanity and common sense for - votes.
Weak unfair unpopular.,
But the Mikly Bar Kids not going to be any better either.
Lets find someone who is prepaired to represent the peoples feelings in this regards.
Stuff the Churches who are too gutless to speak up for Gods Creatures because they are scared the Government will stop their grants.
Umm actually Aimie its even worse than that in many cases.
They simply dont care. The arrogant lot "think" they are superior to other living creatures.
Isnt that a discrace. The same as they have no mercury for suffering termanly ill patients.
Shame on them and Andrew.
May God have just as much lack of concern for them when the time comes.
I hope they see how much these poor people suffer first hand one day.
there is NO excuse for such arrogance and if people wish to put an end to their suffering when they are terminally ill- Its nobody elses business.
ESPECIALLY the Church!

I think first of those pollies who were involved or should have been responsible for this wheatboard scandal to forefeit there retirement funds and give the money to the farmers who supplied their blood and tears for a stolen crop.

Kevin Andrew's is just one of many very
dangerous and unbalanced people in Howard's
Government. Thank goodness it's run its
course and will be assigned to the dust
bin of history

1. you don't live in a democracy.

2. a 1000+ page document is not a free trade agreement.

3. this is the second most successful government in oz history.

4. you voted them in, year after year, so who's the mug?

Pale ,
The Federal Government is purposely committing Racial Discrimination in the Northern Territory - just ask Tom Calma if you don't believe me .

It is NOT just about the abused children ,The Police and doctors have arrived ; It's about resources , Land and Fracturing Aboriginal Society.

Any objective assessment shows this to be obvious.

I don't think I have ever seen a more uncomfortable and guilty look on a minister's Face [ ie Mal Brough] as he spoke on the introduction of the NT "Special Purpose" Indigenous Bill today.

This Government left Australian cattlemen a wait of some 12 years to get free and open access to "those good old Texas boys" markets with the FTA.

And we didn't hear a whimper from the Nationals and the NFF.

Thanks John for your Nation Building Efforts .

Aime stated: "Kevin Andrews introduced a private members bill, which was religiously motivated, to overturn the Northern Territories Terminally Ill of 1995. This most foul piece of handiwork was passed by the Commonwealth Parliament on 24th of March 1997.

Another case of a religious zealot totally disregarding the overwhelming will of the people of the Northern Territory and indeed, most Australian people in general."

Please do not pretend to speak for the rest of Australia. I suspect many Australians oppose euthanasia, and not only on religious grounds. People in this nation only need to look at the "liberal" Dutch experience with euthanasia for a particularly foul example of the slippery slope. First terminally ill patients were allowed to be killed. Then came the chronically ill, then the depressed, then even children. Is this what Australians want?

I'd rather moralistic "religious zealots" in parliament than nihilistic death fundamentalists any day.

I believe Kevin Andrews is one of the best ministers I have ever seen. I think the main reason that some people don't like him it's because of Haneef's visa. Am I wrong?

"I'd rather moralistic "religious zealots" in parliament than nihilistic death fundamentalists any day."

Dresdener, what's wrong with having people in parliament,
who give Australians what most want, which is choices about
their own lives. Aussies should not have to head for Mexico
for their stash of Nembutal, or to Switzerland to die with
dignity.

Angela, IPL has little to do with the Haneef case. What
IPL want to do, is to fight against Planned Parenthood,
an organisation which gives people choices. Catholic
dogma is great for Catholics, but leave the rest of us
out of it please. We want to make our own choices about
our lives.

Angela84
Could you please articulate which principles
that Kevin Andrews espouses you agree
with. If 84 is your age then you should be
well aware of two European gentlemen who
held similar views about race 60 odd years
ago. If 84 is your birth year then go read
some history