House of Representatives Committees

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 five treaty actions tabled in the 41st Parliament on 15 August 20071 and 11 September 20072. The inquiries into these treaty actions lapsed on the dissolution of the 41st Parliament on 17 October 2007. The treaty actions were subsequently tabled in the 42nd Parliament on 12 March 2008.3

15 August 2007 11 September 2007
 

Briefing documents

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:

www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/jsct/12march2008/tor.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.4 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 a public hearing on 17 September 2007 in Canberra. A list of witnesses who appeared before the Committee at the public hearings 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:

www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/jsct/11september2007/hearings.htm
1.6

The Committee in the 42nd Parliament resolved that the evidence from the previous Parliament be used as a basis for this Report.



Footnotes

1 Australia, House of Representatives 2004-05-06-07, Votes and Proceedings, No. 188, p. 2073; Australia, Senate 2004-07, Journal, No. 158, p. 4204. Back
2 Australia, House of Representatives 2004-05-06-07, Votes and Proceedings, No. 190, p. 2093; Australia, Senate 2004-07, Journal, No. 161, p. 4315. Back
3 Australia, House of Representatives 2008, Votes and Proceedings, No. 10, p. 153, Australia, Senate 2008, Journal, No. 5, pp. 197-198. Back
4 The Committee’s review of a number of proposed treaty actions was advertised in
The Australian on 2 April 2008. Members of the public were advised as to how to obtain relevant information both in the advertisement and via the Committee’s web site, and invited to submit their views to the Committee. Back

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