Fair Trade Community in Leichhardt
In May 2010, the Leichhardt Municipality became accredited as a "Fair Trade Community". The accreditation was awarded to Council by the Fair Trade Association of Australia and New Zealand (FTAANZ), as part of the national celebrations for Fair Trade Fortnight 1-16 May 2010. Leichhardt Council is the third Council in Australia to have earnt this accreditation.
Mayor, Cr Jamie Parker receiving the Fair Trade Community accreditation from FTAANZ on 9 May 2010 at the All Souls Anglician Church, Leichhardt Fair Day.
By receiving this accreditation, the Leichhardt Municipality now joins over 300 Fair Trade Communities across the country including other Councils, workplaces, schools and faith groups. All of these groups have signed up to make the big swap to fair trade products in order to tackle poverty and create better futures for developing country farmers, producers, their families and communities. Council congratulates residents & community groups in this achievement!
Now that we have this status, the hardwork doesn't stop here. We need your ongoing support to Fair Trade.
How You Can Become Involved
| • Buy Fair Trade products - Look for the FAIRTRADE Label |
• Get involved with the local Committee |
| • Sell Fair Trade products in your business |
• Use Fair Trade products at your enterprise eg. Tea, coffee, sugar |
To find out more about Leichhardt as a Fair Trade Community, how you can become involved and the Committee's current activities, including previous Council reports, Minutes from past meetings etc, click on the link at the side bar.
Why Fair Trade?
According to FTAANZ, "Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. By requiring companies to pay sustainable prices, Fairtrade addresses the injustices of conventional trade, which traditionally discriminates against the poorest, weakest producers. It enables them to improve their position and have more control over their lives". Fair trade ensures a better deal for producers in developing countries and also an assurance to consumers that the full benefits of fair trade are being received by producers for example:
- A fair & stable price for their produce
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- Security of long term contracts
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- Investment in local community development
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- Improved working conditions
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- Environmentally sustainable farming methods
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- Support in gaining the knowledge & skills needed to operate
successfully in the global economy
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Leichhardt Council has a long commitment to supporting fair trade through it's on going involvement with the East Timor Friends of Maliana. Click here for more information.
A FAIRTRADE Certification label has been developed to identify products as an independent certification that disadvantaged producers in the developing world are getting a better deal by you purchasing these products. Fair trade producers receive a Fair Trade Minimum Price that covers the cost of sustainable production as well as an extra Fair Trade Premium that is invested in social or economic development projects.
Look out for this label when making your purchases to ensure you are supporting fair trade.
For any further information, visit www.fta.org.au
Where to Buy Fair Trade in Leichhardt
To assist residents with their support of fair trade products, Council has produced a Sustainable Shopping Guide - Food, identifying small local businesses & community enterprises who are committed to sustainable practises. Fair Trade contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions & securing the rights of marginalised producers & workers. As a consumer making sustainable shopping choices, you are minimising the impact on our environment & sending a clear message to business & government about the types of values you want to be included in international trade & commerce.
To download a listing of ONLY Fair Trade suppliers in the Municipality, click on 
Fair Trade Listing 2012 (3.13MB) or alternatively go to www.sustainableleichhardt.com.au for an on-line version of the Guide/Listing.
For any further information on fair trade, contact Louise Keightley,
Council's Community Liaison Officer on 9367 9047 or
by email,
louisek@lmc.nsw.gov.au
* Above Photo Details - Drying the
Fairtrade coca beans - Kuaoa Kokoo, Ghana.
Image courtesy: Linda Broom/Fairtrade Labelling ANZ