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Fair Trade Community

What is Fair Trade?

'Fair Trade' seeks to ensure that small-scale farmers and plantation workers receive a fair price for their crops and labour and work under safe conditions. 'Fair Trade' is a hugely successful international trend worth over a billion dollars and growing.

According to Oxfam, Australia's growth in Fair Trade Certified products such as coffee is ranked the fastest in the world with sales up from $150,000 in 2003 to more than $6.5 million in 2006 and still increasing at more than 50 per cent every year.

The Fair Trade Association of Australia and New Zealand works with and supports the FINE definition of Fair Trade.

"Fair Trade is a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect, that seeks greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, marginalized producers and workers - especially in the South. Fair Trade organizations (backed by consumers) are engaged actively in supporting producers, awareness raising and in campaigning for changes in the rules and practice of conventional international trade."

Monash's Fair Trade Community

On 28 October 2008, Council resolved to become a 'Fair Trade Community' following a proposal by Deputy Mayor, Charlotte Baines.

As a Fair Trade Community, the City of Monash has agreed to use products that do not promote poor conditions in developing countries, but instead use Fair Trade products, specifically tea, coffee and chocolate.

Council's Fair Trade Products are supplied by Corporate Express who, since 2006, has offered a range of roasted coffee beans, ground and instant coffee, tea and drinking chocolate that are 'Fair Trade' products.

This is an exciting opportunity for the City of Monash to be a leader in social responsibility and encourage the benefits provided by 'Fair Trade'. In the coming months, Council will be developing new initiatives for local businesses, schools and local groups to encourage broader community support for 'Fair Trade' products.

Fair Trade Steering Group

As part of their 'Fair Trade' commitment, Council has agreed to establish a Steering Group, comprising of eight voluntary members in addition to a Councillor and up to 2 Council Officers. to help promote the benefits of Fair Trade to the community and local businesses.

At it's meeting on 30 June 2009, the following persons were appointed to the Fair Trade Steering Group for a one-year period: Anne Hyde, Michelle Davies, Raqibul Hassan, Amanda Andrews, Danielle Rees, Margaret Hill, Sneha Girish and Christopher Pun, in addition to Councillor Charlotte Baines and Council Officers Jeffrey McAlpine and Priya Prasad.

How to get involved

Please help support this worthy initiative by using products with 'Fair Trade' stickers in the wider community at local shops that carry 'Fair Trade' products, as well as encouraging your work place and local community organisations to use Fair Trade products.

Further Information

For more information about Fair Trade see the Fair Trade Association of Australia and New Zealand website at www.fairtrade.com.au

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Updated: 2 October 2009

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