Political Crossfire Forums

[hipeter924]

Should New Zealand and Australia have a combined market like John Howard and Helen Clark want?

[raf]

Well to be honest I don’t see why it really matters because our markets are open to each other anyway. CERTA is a free trade agreement between Australia and New Zealand, so a combined market won’t dramatically change anything. Besides, a combined market would seem to favour the Kiwis rather than the Aussies.

[hipeter924]

Not exactly because the present trade deal is more on the side of Australia than New Zealand.

[hipeter924]

We let everything in from Australia, yet the apples from NZ are not accepted despite International complains that the evidence the Australian government puts forward has no basis. Also for example Qantas can fly in New Zealand domestically but Air New Zealand can't fly in Australia domestically.

[raf]

My point exactly, it will favour you guys more than us. Of course it is favourable for the kiwis as I've already said; you will be able to import your apples into Australia and Air New Zealand can fly domestically here. However, I don't see what we will gain from it; you said it yourself, we are allowed to export anything to NZ and QANTAS can fly domestically there. Under a combined market, will anything change for us and what new benefits will Australia receive? I know this is a selfish attitude but it is the attitude that governments must take if they are to gain a competitive advantage in this “globalised” economy. Therefore my comment still stands and I still stand by my comment because from our perspective, nothing will drastically change. Perhaps instead we could look to improve the CERTA agreement so to make it more even.

[hipeter924]

Well a combined market would be as benefical a market as the European Union has, it would drop tariffs completly and there would be no trade barriers. Not everything is imported into New Zealand either, I can't find Australian supermarkets and there are no Australian telecommucation companies in NZ really. Some legsilation is going towards this goal because soon NZ and AUS will have the same commerce commission.

Also why would John Howard be endorcing such an approach if it was considered bad for Australia.

[Ch33kY]

Is it a combined market they want?

I thought it was the same currency. Or is that the same thing?

Same currency Yes! I use Kiwi silver coins and people don't look twice. It's already basically the same thing.

[thorn]

Ch33kY wrote: Same currency Yes! I use Kiwi silver coins and people don't look twice. It's already basically the same thing.
Yeah, I always had problems distinguishing between Aussie and Kiwi 50cent coins. Or the golden $2 coins for that matter. :razz:

[Ch33kY]

thorn wrote: Ch33kY wrote: Same currency Yes! I use Kiwi silver coins and people don't look twice. It's already basically the same thing.
Yeah, I always had problems distinguishing between Aussie and Kiwi 50cent coins. Or the golden $2 coins for that matter. :razz:

The 10's and 20's are so similar they are used as regualr currency without anyone complaining. They are commonplace here and I suppose so in NZ.

[thorn]

Ch33kY wrote: thorn wrote: Ch33kY wrote: Same currency Yes! I use Kiwi silver coins and people don't look twice. It's already basically the same thing.
Yeah, I always had problems distinguishing between Aussie and Kiwi 50cent coins. Or the golden $2 coins for that matter. :razz:

The 10's and 20's are so similar they are used as regualr currency without anyone complaining. They are commonplace here and I suppose so in NZ.
Well, I never got any Kiwi coins as change in Oz, but I did get Aussie coins in NZ quite often.