TAS: Latham shows strong leadership in FTA stance; Giddings

AAP General News (Australia)
08-03-2004
TAS: Latham shows strong leadership in FTA stance; Giddings

Tasmania's Labor government says federal Opposition Leader MARK LATHAM has shown strong
leadership with his stance on the Australia-United States free trade agreement.

Federal Labor has thrown its support behind the FTA, but is threatening to block the
enabling legislation in the Senate unless the government accepts two key amendments.

Mr LATHAM says the ALP wants amendments to the detailed legislation to protect the
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme against possible bogus patent applications, and to guarantee
Australian television content rules.

Tasmanian Economic Development Minister LARA GIDDINGS says the federal ALP has taken
the right course of action on the FTA and the HOWARD government should adopt Labor's proposed
amendments.

AAP RTV las/wjf/rp

KEYWORD: TRADE US TAS (HOBART)

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