Chapter 1 Introduction
Purpose of the Report
1.1
This report contains advice to Parliament on the review by the Joint
Standing Committee on Treaties of twelve treaty actions tabled in Parliament on
4 June 2008[1], 17 June 2008[2],
25 June 2008[3] and 26 August 2008[4].
These treaty actions are:
n Convention on the
Rights of Persons with Disabilities
n Australia-Chile
Free Trade Agreement
n Agreement between
the Government of Australia and the Government of the United Arab Emirates
Concerning Defence Cooperation
n Amendment, adopted
1 October 2007, to Annex 1 of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) International Convention Against Doping in Sport
of 19 October 2005
n Headquarters
Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Secretariat to the
Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels
n Optional Protocol
to the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against
Women
n Agreement between
Australia and the European Union on the Processing and Transfer of European
Union-Sourced Passenger Name Record (PNR) Data by Air Carriers to the
Australian Customs Service
n Agreement between
the Government of Australia and the Government of the French Republic Regarding
Defence Cooperation and Status of Forces
n Agreement between
the Government of Australia and the European Community on Certain Aspects of
Air Services
n Amendment to the
Agreement on Social Security between the Government of Australia and the
Government of the Republic of Chile
n Amendment, Adopted
at Rome on 28 March 2008, to the Agreement for the Establishment of the
International Development Law Organization of 5 February 1988, as Amended on 30
June 2002 and 30 November 2002
n Amendment to Annex
4.1 (Rules of Origin) of the Australia-Thailand Free Trade Agreement (TAFTA) of
5 July 2004
1.2
The Report refers frequently to the National Interest Analysis (NIA)
prepared for each proposed treaty action. This document is prepared by the
Government agency (or agencies) responsible for the administration of
Australia’s responsibilities under each treaty. Copies of each NIA may be
obtained from the Committee Secretariat or accessed through the Committee’s
website at:
4 June 2008
http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House_of_Representatives_Committees?url=jsct/4june2008/tor.htm
17 June 2008
http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House_of_Representatives_Committees?url=jsct/17june2008/index.htm
25 June 2008
http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House_of_Representatives_Committees?url=jsct/25june2008/tor.htm
26 August 2008
http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House_of_Representatives_Committees?url=jsct/26august2008/index.htm
1.3
Copies of each treaty action and NIA 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:
www.austlii.edu.au/au/other/dfat/
Conduct of the Committee’s review
1.4
The reviews contained in this report were advertised in the national
press and on the Committee’s website.[5] 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.
1.5
The Committee also received evidence at public hearings on 16 June 2008,
28 July 2008, 29 July 2008, 25 August 2008, 15 September 2008
and 22 September 2008 in Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney. A list of witnesses
who appeared before the public hearing is at Appendix B. Transcripts of
evidence from public hearings may be obtained from the Committee Secretariat or
accessed through the Committee’s website at:
4 June 2008
http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House_of_Representatives_Committees?url=jsct/4june2008/hearings.htm
17 June 2008
http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House_of_Representatives_Committees?url=jsct/17june2008/hearings.htm
25 June 2008
http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House_of_Representatives_Committees?url=jsct/25june2008/hearings.htm
26 August 2008
http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House_of_Representatives_Committees?url=jsct/26august2008/hearings.htm