Purpose of the report

This report contains advice to Parliament on the review by the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties of four treaty actions tabled in Parliament on 20 June, 17 October, 28 November and 6 December 2006. These treaty actions are:

• Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the United Mexican States on the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments, and Protocol, done at Mexico City on 23 August 2005

17 October 2006²

• Amendments, done at St Kitts and Nevis in the Caribbean on 20 June 2006, to the Schedule to the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, done at Washington on 2 December 1946
  

28 November 2006³

• Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia concerning the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, done at Canberra on 11 October 2006⁴

6 December 2006⁵

• Amendment to Annex 1 to the 1996 Protocol to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter

With regard to the above treaty, the Committee adopted the reference from the Minister for Foreign Affairs on 5 September 2006. Following the formal adoption of the amendment to the London Protocol on 2 November 2006, the treaty text and NIA were tabled in both houses of Parliament on 6 December 2006.

Briefing documents

The advice in this Report refers to the National Interest Analysis (NIA) prepared for the proposed treaty actions. This document is prepared by the Government agency (or agencies) responsible for the administration of Australia’s responsibilities under each treaty. Copies of the NIA may be obtained from the Committee Secretariat or accessed through the Committee’s website at:

www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/jsct/20june2006/tor.htm www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/jsct/17october2006/tor.htm www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/jsct/28november2006/tor.htm www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/jsct/co2sequestration/tor.htm

Copies of treaty actions and NIAs may also be obtained from the Australian Treaties Library maintained on the internet by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Australian Treaties Library is accessible through the Committee’s website or directly at:

Conduct of the Committee’s review

The review contained in this report was advertised in the national press and on the Committee’s website.⁶ Invitations to lodge submissions were also sent to all State Premiers, Chief Ministers, Presiding Members of Parliament and to individuals who have expressed an interest in being kept informed of proposed treaty actions. Submissions received and their authors are listed at Appendix A. Exhibits received are listed at Appendix B.

The Committee also received evidence at public hearings held on 14 August, 9 October, 27 November and 5 December 2006 in Canberra. A list of witnesses who appeared before the Committee at the public hearings is at Appendix C. Transcripts of evidence from public hearings may be obtained from the Committee Secretariat or accessed through the Committee’s website at:

Australia, House of Representatives 2004-05-06, Votes and Proceedings, No. 132, p. 1485; Senate 2004-06, Journal, No. 111, p. 2899. Back