Environmental Protection Standards Future Trade Agreements 2020-09-03
2020-09-03
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Questions & Answers
Q1
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Context
MP Jeff Smith questions the government's commitment to environmental standards amidst potential trade negotiations and concerns over appointments that may undermine these commitments.
The former Australian Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, said that he played a major role in ensuring Australia's trade negotiations were not sidetracked by peripheral issues such as environmental standards. Does his potential appointment as a policy adviser to the Board of Trade mean that this is now the Government's new approach? How can the Government reassure us that they do not regard the environment as a peripheral issue?
The Government's approach on the environment, and on the environment and trade, is unchanged. No appointments have been confirmed. Personally, I welcome the fact that a former Prime Minister of Australia is willing to help this country out. I think we should welcome his interest and welcome the endeavours he has the potential to make for this country on behalf of us all.
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