UnitingCare NSW.ACT has written to a number of government ministers opposing community services being covered by the FTA - information and call to action by members of the church (28.3 kb)

 Submission to the Inquiry into the Australia-US Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA) (142.9 kb)

 Synod Resolution on Debt Cancellation (98.6 kb)

 Free trade or genuine progress: A position paper on the WTO GATS and the USA–Australia Free Trade Agreement 20 March 2003, co-produced with Uniting Justice (159.3 kb)

 Extract from the inquiry into Australia's relationship with the World Trade Organisation (Monday 12 February - Public Hearing) (156.3 kb)
Rev. Wansbrough - Thank you for this opportunity to address the committee. In beginning my remarks I should point out to the committee that the Uniting Church is actually a very large organisation of civil society.

 Letter to WTO President opposing mini-ministerial meetings as a subversion of the WTO process (39.3 kb)

 Submission on The Draft Multilateral Agreement on Investment (40.6 kb)
The Board for Social Responsibility urges the Treaties Committee to reject the draft Multilateral Agreement on Investment as inconsistent with democratic principles and with the obligations Australia and other nations must fulfil towards their citizens and the environment under already existing international law. It is contrary to democracy for a government to be subject to penalties imposed by an external tribunal for actions taken within its own borders in the interests of its citizens. International capital markets already impose their own disciplines on nations via market mechanisms; the power of investors against nations would be inappropriately enhanced by the MAI.

 Submission to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade regarding Australia's Approach to further Multilateral Trade Negotiations (45.9 kb)
The Board for Social Responsibility welcomes DFAT's public consultation regarding Australia's approach to further multilateral trade negotiations. Like a number of other community organisations, the Board made a submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties in 1998, opposing Australia's support for the MAI. It is clear from that committee's inquiry into the MAI that there is serious concern throughout the Australian community about matters of principle that should apply, whether the agreement is the MAI through the OECD, or some other agreement on trade and investment undertaken through the WTO or some other international body.

 Synod 2003 trade resolution (134.6 kb)

 Submission to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade concerning WTO negotiations (83.3 kb)