Today Oxfam Australia and Fairtrade Labelling Australia & New Zealand responded to a factually inaccurate and misleading press release put out by the Institute of Public Affairs, a conservative think tank that is idealogically opposed to fair trade and seeks to promote free trade as the only solution to global poverty. 

Both Oxfam and Fairtrade point out that the IPA's claim that the Australian Competition Consumer Commission (ACCC) reprimanded Oxfam for misleading consumers about fair trade is false and, in itself, wildly misleading. Oxfam and Fairtrade invite concerned parties to contact the ACCC directly on this matter. 

MEDIA RELEASE

July 17th 2008

Growing Australia’s Fair Trade In Coffee

The volume of ethically sourced coffee imported into Australia will jump by more than 15% over the next year thanks to Wild Bean Café, one of the country’s key coffee retailers, Fairtrade Labelling Australia & New Zealand announced today.

An on-the-road café concept located at BP service stations, Wild Bean Café has decided to ensure that every coffee on its menu is made using 100% Fairtrade Certified coffee beans.

With more than 100 outlets across the country, this decision is a first for a national café retailer in Australia.

Click here.

The Sunday Program on Australia's Channel 9 aired a story "The Darker Side of Chocolate"on Sunday 9 March in the lead up to Easter.

The almost 10 minute piece explores child slavery and trafficking in the cocoa industry in Ivory Coast and Ghana and features interviews with Tim Costello from World Vision Australia and a representative of the Confectionary Manufacturer's.

This Edition includes:

· Tate and Lyles Sweet Deal for Sugar Farmers

· The SOFA Tea Cooperative

· The NZ Chocolate Petition

· Amnesty Girls develop allergies to non Fairtrade

· Make Change, Change Me Change the World

· Fairtrade is Pants – it’s official!!!

· Clinton puts Fairtrade on the Bill

· Fairtrade Festy Fun in the NZ Sun.

· Fairtrade Fortnight 08... it’s coming so get ready!

Fairtrade continues to address the needs of coffee producing communities

Fairtrade Minimum Prices for Arabica coffee will be adjusted upwards to ensure Small Farmers’ Organisations continue to receive a price which covers the costs of sustainable production.

From 1 June 2008 all Fairtrade Certified coffee producers will receive at least 125 USD cents per pound for Fairtrade certified washed Arabica and 120 USD cents for unwashed Arabica, or the market price, if higher. This represents an average increase of 5 USD cents per pound. For Fairtrade Certified organic coffee an extra minimum differential of 20 cents is being applied. Additionally, all producers will continue to receive a Fairtrade Premium of 10 cents per pound for investment in community and business improvements. These new Fairtrade Minimum Prices will be valid through at least June 2010, when another price review may take place.