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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-11-18 Daily Xml
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FAIRTRADE LABELLING ORGANISATION

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (15:55): Well, it is official: Father Christmas arrived in Adelaide last Saturday, so none of us can now avoid dealing with the coming festive season, even if we prefer to. I encourage those who celebrate Christmas with the giving of gifts to turn your minds to where your gifts have come from, that is, have they been made in a fair and ethical environment?

I have spoken before about Fairtrade in this place. It is an important issue, which I try to keep in the forefront of my thinking when shopping. Of course, we know that consumer activism is incredibly effective. Businesses want to make money, and they will pay attention when consumers say, 'This is where I want to spend my money.' I am pleased to report that Fairtrade sales in Australia and New Zealand are increasing significantly: up 72 per cent between 2007 and 2008. Worldwide, the increase is 22 per cent year to year. I recently received an email from Fairtrade Labelling Australia and New Zealand that read, in part:

Last year alone $A25 million worth of Fairtrade coffee sales in Australia and New Zealand helped provide farmers with over $2 million in additional funds to spend on their businesses and their communities.

Who says coffee cannot change the world? Consumer demand, driven by consumer education, is making retailers respond by offering these ethical options. The more people know about the realities of the lives of those who produce their coffee, chocolate and cotton, the more engaged they become with the reality—and they are voting with their dollars.

Currently, coffee makes up 78 per cent of Fairtrade sales across Australia and New Zealand. Similarly, in the United States, coffee was the first commodity to have an independent regulatory body to ensure that producers were paid a fair living wage for their work. Wild Bean cafes, which I am happy to say can be found throughout Adelaide, switched to 100 per cent Fairtrade coffee in 2008, and a number of other retailers are incorporating more and more Fairtrade options into their retail lines as consumer demand grows.

But it is not just food and drink that we need to think about. Consider for a moment the soccer ball that you might want to buy for a youngster for Christmas. Soccer balls are still often hand stitched and their production is labour intensive. The hand stitching is easier for those with smaller fingers, so children in Third World countries between the ages of five and 14 are often employed to sew together soccer balls for children in First World countries—and, of course, children are cheaper to employ.

Imagine those children with crippled fingers from sewing 11 hours each day not having the time to play in the street themselves as you picture the children in your life playing with their new soccer ball. Then consider buying a soccer ball that is made by a company that certifies that it does not use child labour and that it pays its workers a decent wage, a wage that means that their children do not need to go to work.

By 2007, the Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International reported that Fairtrade sales globally exceeded 2.3 billion euros and that 7.5 million people were benefitting from being involved with Fairtrade. By buying Fairtrade, you can ensure that you are buying directly from producers who are being paid a reasonable wage, a wage they can live on and support their family. You know that you are not buying chocolate that has been produced by beans cut by children, or a shirt that has been sewn by an exploited woman living in grinding poverty. You are paying for what you get, for the work that has gone into producing it and not for ridiculous mark-ups that never trickle down to those who labour in the production of the items.

If members want further information, I direct them to www.fairtrade.com.au as a good jumping off point. I will briefly quote from an article in the September New Scientist, which I picked up today. The article states:

Studies suggest labelling schemes like Fairtrade, designed to ensure people get a better price for their products, really can make a big difference to poor farmers, improving things like family stability and children's education.

So, when you invite family and friends around for a coffee or a cup of tea over the holiday season, or when you give someone chocolates as a gift, think of where these items were sourced—and remember that when you buy Fairtrade you are helping to make a real difference in the lives of children all over the world. I remind honourable members that you can buy Fairtrade now at your local Woolworths and Coles supermarkets.

The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN: Mr President, I draw your attention to the state of the council.

A quorum having been formed:

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