Letter to the Editor
Tariffs & Global Realities.
1999
I find that the article by Stewart Mc Arthur (GA 14 Feb) on the "Global Realities" of tariff cuts to be more opinion based than factual. The answers were more fantastic than the coined "myths", allow me to correct the opinions.
Myth 1- that the previous Labor Government set the direction for tariff policy?
Sorry,
but you know that it was your Fraser Government in 1975 that set the NIEO plan for
tariffs in motion.
Myth 2- tariffs do not protect jobs?
Why then have most of our TCF and Car
industries shut their doors and displaced hundreds of thousands of workers, and why
then does the government resort to using seasonally adjusted jobless figures to hide the
real figures.
Myth 3- that Car and TCF industries are in better shape?
Wrong, what shape would
you call the many defunct, closed and bankrupted ones that your policies have
decimated.
Myth 4- we are better off with less protection?
No, no, no, now we have a huge
foreign debt and a negative trade balance, now we have hundreds of thousands more
on the dole, now we have a worthless dollar.
Myth 5- Australia gains from free trade?
Very wrong, free trade is only of benefit to
transnational companies, most Australian owned companies have been legislated out of
business.
Myth 6- Average world tariffs have fallen to 5%?
This must be the printers devil at
work! Pages 139/140 of the industry commission draft report list tariffs between Zero
and 200%, I make this to be an average of 60%.
Global Realities..... really Mr Mc Arthur.
Noel Mc Donald
Geelong