The latest on the ANZTPA proposal and the Therapeutic Products and Medicines Bill

Tuesday, December 12th 2006

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On Tuesday the 5th of November, the Government tabled legislation to try and make the dreaded ANZTPA proposal a reality and making it clear that the scheme would include all natural products and medical devices. Unlike some other groups, the NZ Health Trust has always considered that if and when the legislation made an appearance it would cover all such products and now this has been shown to be correct.

The tabling of the 494 page Therapeutic Products and Medicines Bill came without prior warning to parties in Parliament. We can only take from that that the Government knows full well how strong the public opposition to this plan is and are hoping to get it through at a time when everyone is already busy and before too many people really notice what is happening. Perhaps they think that by acting "under cover of night", as it were, groups like the NZ Health Trust won't have time to rally support from the many hundreds of thousand New Zealanders who are determined to fight for their health freedoms.

Lets remember what this fight is about:

* its about ensuring NZ has a system of health laws that focus on the best interest of consumers, not the protection of off shore corporate interests

* its about protecting New Zealand sovereignty and small New Zealand businesses

* its about ensuring that the natural health products that New Zealanders use and rely on are not withdrawn through unnecessary bureaucracy

* Its about protecting your right to make your own health choices into the future

This IS NOT about the industry not wanting regulation, we have always supported a sensible NZ based system of regulation specific to natural products. This IS NOT about enhancing consumer safety - there is no evidence that this system in Australia has made the public any safer, in fact quite the reverse

On Saturday the 9th December, the NZ Health Trust updated us with the following information

Following on from our newsletter earlier this week, this is a quick
update to cover three important points

1. In response to your requests we have created an updated "email your MP" web page specifically designed to target MP's from the parties likely to support the Government or those that simply have not yet made their position clear. These are NZ First and United Future, who have both confirmed their intention to vote for the ANZTPA Bill at its first reading, and the Maori Party who have not as yet announced their stance on the issue and also included is Labour.

Send your message to MPs' here
http://nzhealthtrust.co.nz/cgi-bin/massmailerMPs.cgi?

We urge you to view the template just as an example and take a moment or two to write your own individual message.

2. Government has announced that the Therapeutic Products and Medicines Bill will have its first reading, debate and vote on Tuesday 12th December and then it appears that the Bill will be referred to a Select Committee for consideration. Which Committee is as yet unknown but what is clear is that in another act of manipulation of the processes to suit themselves, Government has decided that this is no longer a health matter (despite having been one for the past 4 years) and will instead send it to a select committee on which they control a majority of the members to ensure they finally get a select committee obedient enough to give the Government the report it wants.

Like everything else in relation to this matter, the decisions and timeframes are all being designed to suit the Government and kept behind closed doors until the last possible moment to avoid public scrutiny of their in defendable actions.

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***BREAKING NEWS-***

3. A protest rally was organised to coincide with the first vote on the Bill in front of Parliament beginning at 1pm on Tuesday 12 December - Tony Ryall from National and the Green's Sue Kedgley have both indicated that they will speak to the rally confirming their opposition to ANZTPA and the Therapeutic Products and Medicines Bill.

We all know what a busy and expensive time of year this is for everyone and that is undoubtedly why the Government chose this time to try and muscle the legislations through, but in years to come when the brutal reality of ANZTPA has taken away your fundamental health freedoms, do you want to have to tell yourself you didn't do anything because you were too busy planning for Christmas at the time!

Please - DON'T LET THESE SORT OF TACTICS SUCCEED - do all you can to be there and following the rally you will have the chance to watch the proceedings in the House on this very matter and see exactly which of our so called "representatives" actually do represent the interests of New Zealanders and which are only looking out for themselves and their corporate buddies. A big turn out will mean good media coverage and our best chance to ensure this Bill never becomes law.

If you haven't already, please sign up to receive the NZ Health trust newsletters and updates, as this is an easy way to stay up with the play.

The latest as of the 12th December

Annette King in conjunction with her own Ministerial Industry Advisory Committee have it appears fabricated information that the health industry supports the introduction of the treaty and the Therapeutic Products and Medicines Bill misleading opposition parties into supporting her hand over of New Zealand's sovereignty and our healthcare system to a dictatorial Australian corporation which will dictate healthcare policy to their poor New Zealand minority cousins.

It appears that Australian Prime Minister John Howard has threatened New Zealand with Trade sanctions if New Zealand does not tow the line and introduce the Therapeutic Products and Medicines Bill which will form the trans-Tasman Joint Agency Treaty with Australia.

Some of the opposition parties have been duped into reneging on their unanimous decision not to support the trans-Tasman Joint Agency Treaty unless dietary supplements are completely removed from the treaty legislation

In order to get this passed in the House Annette King needs support from the other political parties.

It is imperative that we deluge all MP's with e-mails, telephone calls, faxes and letters (which do not require a stamp) opposing the passage of this harmful legislation.

Their web site is http://www.nzhealthtrust.co.nz/newsletter.html

We also recommend you sign up to The New Zealand Charter Of Health Practitioners newsletter, as another way to keep up with the latest in natural health news in New Zealand.

You will find them at www.healthcharter.org.nz

 

If you need help or advice, you are welcome to email our naturopathic team with your health question.

Disclaimer: The health information presented here has been written for the New Zealand health consumer. It is of a general nature and is only intended to provide a summary of the subjects covered. The information is not intended to be comprehensive or to provide medical advice to you. While all care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information, no responsibility or liability is accepted, and no person should act in reliance on any statement contained in the information provided. All health ailments should be treated by a qualified health professional.

 

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