Celebrity spin on benefits of Apec

By John Armstrong

Confused about Apec and whether it is good for you? Ask Sean Fitzpatrick the next time you see him. Or Susan Devoy. Or Alan Duff.

The three celebrities are among nine members of an Apec advisory council set up by the Government to help "communicate the benefits" of this year's meetings.

Council members will not be paid for spreading that message during speaking engagements and school visits, nor for the feedback they will provide to the Government on its plans for the running of Apec. The personal costs of attending council meetings will be met from the Apec Task Force's $40 million-plus taxpayer-paid budget.

Apec opponents yesterday condemned the celebrity campaign.

Green Party co-leader Rod Donald said softening up the public in this way was a desperate attempt by the Government to disguise the failure of free trade to provide jobs.

Aziz Choudry, spokesman for the lobby group Gatt Watchdog, said documents obtained under the Official Information Act revealed that the Government's strategy was to establish a positive "brand" for Apec rather than hold an informed debate on trade liberalisation.

Asked what contribution Sean Fitzpatrick could make to such a debate, the Prime Minister's Office said council members were not expected to be involved in detailed policy discussions. They would talk about Apec generally and provide feedback from all walks of life.

Other council members are former Trade Minister Philip Burdon; the secretary of the Council of Trade Unions, Angela Foulkes; Comalco managing director Kerry McDonald; former Wilson & Horton chief executive John Maasland; research economist Kerrin Vautier and the chairman of Carter Holt Harvey, Sir Wilson Whineray.