TamanianSentor Richard Colbeck has questioned the government funding of Ethical Clothing Australia during a Senate Estimates hearing, alleging that the government is creating a monopoly for ethical accreditation in the Australian TCF sector.The Liberal Senator questioned Mike Lawson, Head of Division of the Manufacturing Division, Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research and Senator Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research over the government's procurement statement of July 2009 which announced that government procurement in the TCF sector would require companies to be involved in the Homeworkers Code of Practice, which is run through Ethical Clothing Australia."If a company can legitimately demonstrate its bona fides through whatever process-and I have been dealing with this with the government in relation to certification of timber, for example-why are we specifying a particular entity as the sole provider of this service?" SeantorColbeck asked.
展开▼
