“It’s now or never – the next 12 months is critical”
Jubilee Australia’s Adele Webb, on behalf of the Australian Robin Hood Tax coalition, took part in Thursday’s FTT teleconference linking her with European and UK campaigners meeting in Paris. Such linkups are critically important in making sure our Australian campaign is in step with global strategy.
What is abundantly clear is that with the French championing the tax and Sarkozy chairing the G20 next November, the next 12 months is the Financial Transaction Tax’s window of opportunity. Sarkozy has already made a national address that canvases a FTT. Campaigners believe the most likely way forward is through its implementation in Europe first half 2011, followed by countries like Japan signing on at the G8 and culminating in widespread sign on (including by Australia, we hope!) at the G20 in November.
What does this mean for our campaign in Australia?
The next few months we will be:
- signing up more members to our campaign,
- educating educating educating – stressing to politicians and the public alike the need for at least half monies raised from a FTT to go towards climate change mitigation and the fight against poverty
- commissioning research into implementation issues regarding the tax in Australia
- preparing for the G20 Finance Ministers meeting in February…..
And we are in the process of recruiting a Robin Hood Tax Coordinator. Stay tuned…
