Fed: Latham forced into backflip on FTA - Downer

AAP General News (Australia)
08-03-2004
Fed: Latham forced into backflip on FTA - Downer

Foreign Minister ALEXANDER DOWNER says Labor leader MARK LATHAM has been forced into
an embarrassing backflip on the free trade agreement with the United States.

The Labor caucus has voted two-thirds in favour of supporting the FTA following a Senate
committee report in favour of the deal.

Mr DOWNER says the decision is a humiliating backflip by Mr LATHAM, who signalled that
he would oppose the deal when it was first struck earlier this year.

He says the Senate committee inquiry has been nothing but a stalling tactic which has
backfired on Mr LATHAM, and the enormous divisions in the ALP are of the Opposition Leader's
own doing.

Mr DOWNER says it highlights the fact that Mr LATHAM is extraordinarily inexperienced
when it comes to international relations.

AAP RTV mfh/sb/mj/rp i

KEYWORD: TRADE US DOWNER (CANBERRA)

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