Joint Standing Committee on Treaties

Committee activities (inquiries and reports)

Report 68 Treaties tabled on 7 December 2004 (5) and 9 August 2005

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Chapter 1 Introduction

Purpose of the report
Briefing documents
Conduct of the Committee’s review

Purpose of the report
1.1	This Report contains advice to Parliament on the review by the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties of three proposed treaty actions. The first of these treaty actions was tabled in Parliament on 7 December 2004¹ and the remaining two were tabled on 9 August 2005. ² These treaty actions are: International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture(PGRFA)³ Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (Indonesia, 24 February 1976) as amended by the Protocol amending the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, 1987 and the Second Protocol amending the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, 1998 Supplementary Agreement between the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland concerning the Anglo-Australian Optical Telescope, at Siding Spring, New South Wales, Australia.

Briefing documents
1.2	The advice in this Report refers to the National Interest Analyses (NIAs) prepared for the proposed treaty actions. These documents are prepared by the Government agency (or agencies) responsible for the administration of Australia’s responsibilities under each treaty. Copies of the NIAs may be obtained from the Committee Secretariat or accessed through the Committee’s website at: www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/jsct/7dec2004/tor.htm" www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/jsct/9august2005/tor.htm
1.3	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: www.austlii.edu.au/au/other/dfat/

Conduct of the Committee’s review
1.4	The review contained in this report was advertised in the national press and on the Committee’s website. ⁴ Letters were also sent inviting comment from all State Premiers, Chief Ministers and from individuals who have expressed an interest in being kept informed of proposed treaty actions such as these. A list of submissions and their authors is at Appendix A.
1.5	Evidence was also received from public hearings held on 9 December 2002, 3 March 2003, 14 March 2005 and 5 and 12 September 2005. A list of witnesses who appeared at public hearings is at Appendix B. A transcript of evidence from the public hearings may be obtained from the Committee Secretariat or accessed through the Committee’s website at: www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/jsct/7dec2004/hearings.htm www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/jsct/9august2005/hearings.htm

Footnotes

1	House of Representatives Votes and Proceedings, 7 December 2004, p. 99; Senate Journal, 7 December 2004, p. 233. Back
2	House of Representatives Votes and Proceedings, 9 August 2005, p. 484; Senate Journal, 9 August 2005, p. 861. Back
3	This treaty was first tabled in December 2002, with inquiry lapsing on prorogation of the 40 th Parliament. The treaty was subsequently tabled in the 41 st Parliament. The Committee’s reviews of other treaties which were also tabled on 7 December 2004 are contained in Reports 63, 64 and 65. Back
4	The Committee’s review of the proposed treaty actions were advertised in The Australian on 9 February 2005 and 17 August 2005. Members of the public were advised on how to obtain relevant information and invited to submit their views to the Committee, both in the advertisement and via the Committee’s website. Back

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