News & Media
Email to Sen. Lyn Alison re Therapeutic Goods Administration
-----Original Message-----
From: Duncan M. Roads [mailto:editor@nexusmagazine.com]
Sent: Tuesday, 10 October 2006 5:13 PM
To: O'Mara, Siobhan (Sen L. Allison)
Subject: TGA abuse of power with Alternative Health Products
Dear Senator,
This is a rather impromptu email, to alert you to the un-recognized rape and pillage of what I loosely refer to as, the alternative health industry in this country.
In a nutshell, scores and scores of small businesses have been systematically harassed and often prosecuted by various, quasi-autonomous/govt agencies, typically the TGA and its subsidiary bodies.
These businesses are usually dealing with therapeutic goods and devices, and whilst I agree with appropriate health and safety standards for the goods, and the marketing of the goods, I do not agree with the flagrant breaches and excessive use of this authority. Especially when it is known that agencies such as the TGA are predominantly funded now by the private sector (read drug companies).
The end result is years of costly legal intimidation and often closure of many small to medium-sized businesses. I personally know of around 30-40 such businesses over the last 5 years, but right now it is getting way out of hand.
The other part of the problem is this - when any settlement of dispute occurs, there is a non-disclosure agreement signed as a condition of settlement, meaning I cannot report on the amazing and unbelievable absurdities and injustices being perpetuated, and nor can any other media. The victims literally are too scared to come forward on the record.
Hence the need for a Senate level commission or inquiry, so that victims can give testimony without fear of prosecution for breaching a gagging order.
This is no small scale laughing matter. The alt health spokesperson groups are too scared to make waves, and even if they did, they cannot get anyone to stand up on the record to give testimony.
I invite your response on how to proceed with such a matter. For me the situation is also growing dire, as I am losing a lot of advertising revenue from businesses which now no longer exist. What the impact of these business closures is on employment or the economy is anyone's guess.
I am well known and respected amongst many of the old-guard of the alternative media, greenies, and alt heath groups, schools and businesses. The magazine I publish is circulated internationally in many languages, and is the largest selling alternative news magazine in Australia to this day.
Later this year, the alternative media in Australia will be running full pages adverts asking readers to write to their senators, and DEMANDING an end to this blatant misuse of authority by quasi-autonomous organisations like the TGA, and their unfair targeting of anything 'natural' or 'alternative'.
It would be nice to be able to let readers know of your support, if any, for such an inquiry.
Kind regards, and with much appreciation of all the work you do.
Duncan
Duncan M. Roads, Editor, NEXUS Magazine
PO Box 30, Mapleton Qld 4560 Australia.
Tel: 07 5442 9280; Fax: 07 5442 9381
www.nexusmagazine.com
"The nature of the universe is such that ends can never justify the means. On the contrary, the means always determine the end." - (Aldous Huxley)
