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Oz Open Software OSIA slams DFAT's brazen denial of TPP secrecy

DFAT's CPTPP "Myth Busters" document[1] attracted further scrutiny today when OSIA criticised the document's brazen denial---despite a widely publicised history to the contrary---of the secrecy employed throughout the TPP (and subsequently CPTPP) negotiations. This follows hot on the heels of OSIA's criticism of the document's comments on economic modelling[2] and ISDS[3] as biased and misleading.

The DFAT document described as a myth that "The Government negotiated the deal in secret''. This belies a long and well documented history of the process's near complete lack of public transparency. Indeed DFAT themselves have said the exact opposite about TPP negotiations before: in 2013 DFAT Acting First Assistant Secretary Ms Elizabeth Bowes, stated in Senate Estimates " fact the process whereby the negotiating texts remain confidential is consistent with standard international treaty negotiating practice so that applies across the board."[4]

Capitalism doesn't work when legislation doesn't limit greed: Microsoft

How Microsoft's Office software, which used to be permanently licensed, may now expire while you are using the computer you bought if for, because the user has no control over Microsoft versions. The result is that the buyer is greatly disadvantaged, but Microsoft makes money hand over fist for a self-limiting product.

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