I think the problem is that the politicians on both sides don't really know how the electorate feels about the FTA. This is because the electorate itself has no idea how it actually feels about it. The Libs seem to be banking on the idea that if the majority don't understand the FTA, then the majority won't oppose it either. There seems to be a fuzzy idea amongst Australians that the FTA is good for us, but simply hurts a few interest groups.
My belief is that the FTA does have very short-run net wealth benefits to Australia, but in the long-run it is disasterous. It sets the conditions for, and perpetuates a country in industrial decline; an era of RELATIVE poverty in relation to other the larger established Western nations, and growing nations like China.
The Labor party is playing it safe, I think, because they just don't know how the electorate will react if they reject the FTA. They are also very guilty of examining the short-term benefits in isolation. Indeed, they might think that the short-run effects are all Australians are capable of seeing right now as well. As such it would be risky to place to much faith in their understanding of anything else. This is where Labor may have failed once again, and played into Howards hands. They probably needed to show leadership by making a big point of disagreeing vehemently on the contentious long term FTA issues, and winning votes thorough courage and leadership.
Once a large measure like the US FTA has been put in place it is always more difficult to dislodge. It's a bit like the unannounced arrival of the "in-laws" at your house for the school holidays I suppose. Howard slipped the FTA through under cover of Iraq and other more sensational foreign affairs issues. By doing this I think he painted Labor into a corner.
Either way Labor are stuffed on this one, the best they can hope for is that the FTA issue becomes a dead one before the election. And more importantly, that their failure on this issue has little effect upon the voting peruasions of Australians.
